Impact of vericiguat on heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: a review

Abstract

Introduction

Heart failure is a major public health issue with a prevalence of about 26 million people worldwide. Reduced nitric oxide availability, lower soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) activity, and decreased cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) production are the causes of HF's development. Vericiguat prescribed under the brand name Verquvo was approved by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in January 2021. It is a novel agent and the first sGC stimulator which helps to treat patients suffering from heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Objective

The mechanism of action (cGMP pathway) of vericiguat, its clinical trials, its use in the treatment of heart failure, and its possible future aspects in therapeutic recommendations are all covered in this review. It will also raise awareness amongst healthcare professionals about the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters, dosing, administration, and drug-related problems of this new drug.

Methods

Various databases for drug review were used in this review like PubMed, Medline, Google scholar, Drug bank, U.S. FDA, Medscape, and European society of cardiology guidelines. A total of 58 articles were screened out of which 39 articles were included in this review.

Results

This review discusses vericiguat's mechanism of action (cGMP pathway), clinical studies, application in the treatment of heart failure, and potential future considerations in therapeutic recommendations. It will also educate healthcare professionals about the new drug's pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, dose, administration, and drug-related problems.

Conclusion

After hospitalization for HFrEF, the 5-year survival rate is just 25%, and disease morbidity and death are still significant. As adjunctive therapy for individuals with heart failure and a low ejection fraction, vericiguat has a moderate level of effectiveness. Vericiguat's efficacy as an adjunct therapy to different drugs used to cure HF has to be further investigated. Vericiguat's safety and dosage in patients who have severe renal or hepatic illness need to be studied further.