Research Progress in Finerenone in Cardiovascular Diseases

Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA) have significant therapeutic effects on heart failure, hypertension, chronic kidney disease and primary aldosteronism. However, steroid MRA can cause hyperkalemia, deterioration of renal insufficiency, menstrual disorder and male breast development, and consequently has found limited clinical applications. In recent years, basic and clinical studies have confirmed that finerenone is a new non-steroidal MRA with high receptor affinity and selectivity, which can decrease adverse effects such as hyperkalemia and exert powerful cardioprotective effects. Herein, the structure, function, pharmacological mechanism and adverse effects of finerenone are summarized, and its cardiovascular protective effects and clinical applications are described in detail, to aid in understanding of the roles of finerenone in treating cardiovascular diseases and to explore future directions.