Vericiguat: A Novel Soluble Guanylate Cyclase Stimulator for Use in Patients With Heart Failure.

Heart failure (HF) affects 6.2 million Americans and is increasing annually in its frequency. Treatment of HF has been at the forefront of medical advancements due to the financial burden on our health care system. As such, changes to the guidelines regarding standard of care have been evolving over the last decade with the recent additions of sacubitril-valsartan and sodium glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors to standard of care in the treatment of HF. Despite the aforementioned expansions in treatment options, HF continues to have a significant impact on the American health care system. Most recently, a novel drug vericiguat that targets an unprecedented pathway for the treatment of HF was Food and Drug Administration approved for the management of patients with HF with a reduced ejection fraction with a recent hospitalization or need for outpatient intravenous diuretics. In clinical trials, vericiguat was associated with a reduction in death from cardiovascular causes and first hospitalization in comparison to placebo. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive literature analysis of the various trials surrounding the approval of vericiguat and to both inform and synthesize the data surrounding the clinical use of vericiguat. The introduction of Vericiguat should be considered as a treatment option in patients to decrease the mortality/morbidity of HF with reduced ejection fraction and to increase the quality of life.

Firibastat: A Novel Brain Aminopeptidase Inhibitor - A New Era of Antihypertensive therapy.

Global incidence and prevalence of hypertension continues to increase and remains a significant challenge. The ever-increasing number of cases are due to comorbid conditions such as obesity and diabetes, as well as lifestyle indiscretions such as excessive salt intake. Hypertension, congestive heart failure, and kidney disease are all conditions resulting from abnormal Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone activation and adverse remodeling. Firibastat, a novel Brain Aminopeptidase inhibitor, may be able to help achieve blood pressure control in those with resistant hypertension. In this review article, we will discuss the biochemical pathway of firibastat and various trials assessing drug efficacy in animals and humans. This drug has the potential to curb the risk of uncontrolled hypertension and help improve long term cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.