Vericiguat: First Approval

Drugs. 2021 Apr;81(6):721-726. doi: 10.1007/s40265-021-01496-z.

Abstract

Vericiguat (VERQUVO™; Merck & Co, Bayer AG) is a soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulator being developed for the treatment of chronic heart failure. Vericiguat stimulates sGC and cGMP production independent of nitric oxide (NO) and enhances the effects of NO by stabilizing the NO-sGC binding. Based on the results of the phase III VICTORIA trial vericiguat was recently approved in the USA for risk reduction in patients with heart failure and ejection fraction < 45%. This article summarizes the milestones in the development of vericiguat leading to this first approval.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Chronic Disease
  • Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic
  • Heart Failure / drug therapy*
  • Heart Failure / metabolism
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology*
  • Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase / metabolism*
  • United States

Substances

  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring
  • Pyrimidines
  • Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase
  • vericiguat