Menopausal symptom management: Fezolinetant's varied doses provide effective relief for vasomotor symptoms in women - A meta-analysis of 3291 participants.

Menopause represents the physiological transition when a woman's reproductive period ends associated with a variety of symptoms, including vasomotor symptoms, such as night sweats and hot flashes. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of oral Fezolinetant for treating vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause. Five electronic databases were searched from their inception until May 2023. Via the Cochrane risk of bias tool, two reviewers assessed the studies' quality. The primary outcomes were a decrease in VMSs frequency and severity and safety outcomes at 4 and 12 weeks. Data were extracted and then analyzed using RevMan software. This meta-analysis included six trials with a total of 3291 women that compared Fezolinetant to a placebo in the treatment of menopausal VMSs. After 4 and 12 weeks of therapy, fezolinetant at 30 mg QD or 45 mg QD substantially decreased the frequency and severity of VMSs per 24 hours compared to placebo. Fezolinetant at 90 mg BID, 30 mg QD, or 45 mg QD did not show a significant difference in the rate of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), headache, and TEAEs leading to permanent discontinuation compared to placebo. Fezolinetant proves to be a successful and well-tolerated remedy for menopausal women suffering from VMSs. Notably, the 45 mg daily dosage over 12 weeks exhibited significant efficacy. Nonetheless, extensive future trials are necessary to ascertain its long-term safety, effectiveness, and relative potency compared to alternative VMS treatments like hormone therapy.

La ménopause représente la transition physiologique lorsque la période de reproduction d'une femme se termine, associée à divers symptômes, notamment des symptômes vasomoteurs, tels que des sueurs nocturnes et des bouffées de chaleur. Cette revue systématique et méta-analyse visaient à évaluer l'efficacité et l'innocuité du Fezolinetant oral pour traiter les symptômes vasomoteurs associés à la ménopause. Cinq bases de données électroniques ont été consultées depuis leur création jusqu'en mai 2023. Via l'outil Cochrane sur le risque de biais, deux examinateurs ont évalué la qualité des études. Les principaux critères de jugement étaient une diminution de la fréquence et de la gravité des SVM ainsi que des critères de sécurité à 4 et 12 semaines. Les données ont été extraites puis analysées à l'aide du logiciel RevMan. Cette méta-analyse comprenait six essais portant sur un total de 3 291 femmes comparant Fezolinetant à un placebo dans le traitement des SVM ménopausiques. Après 4 et 12 semaines de traitement, le fézolinetant à la dose de 30 mg une fois par jour ou de 45 mg une fois par jour a considérablement réduit la fréquence et la gravité des SMV toutes les 24 heures par rapport au placebo. Le fézolinetant à la dose de 90 mg deux fois par jour, de 30 mg une fois par jour ou de 45 mg une fois par jour n'a pas montré de différence significative dans le taux d'événements indésirables survenus pendant le traitement (TEAE), de maux de tête et de TEAE conduisant à un arrêt définitif par rapport au placebo. Le fézolinetant s'avère être un remède efficace et bien toléré pour les femmes ménopausées souffrant de VMS. Notamment, la dose quotidienne de 45 mg sur 12 semaines a montré une efficacité significative. Néanmoins, de futurs essais approfondis sont nécessaires pour vérifier son innocuité, son efficacité et sa puissance relative à long terme par rapport aux traitements alternatifs du VMS comme l'hormonothérapie.

Systematic review of neurokinin-3 receptor antagonists for the management of vasomotor symptoms of menopause.

IMPORTANCE: Vasomotor symptoms (VMS) affect many postmenopausal persons and impact sleep and quality of life. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review examines the literature describing the safety and efficacy of neurokinin-3 receptor antagonists approved and in development for postmenopausal persons with VMS. EVIDENCE REVIEW: A search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts was conducted using the search terms and permutations of neurokinin-3 receptor antagonist, elinzanetant, fezolinetant, and osanetant. Inclusion criteria of reporting on efficacy or safety of fezolinetant, elinzanetant, or osanetant; studies in participants identifying as female; full record in English; and primary literature were applied. Abstract-only records were excluded. Extracted data were synthesized to allow comparison of reported study characteristics, efficacy outcomes, and safety events. Eligible records were evaluated for risk of bias via the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool for randomized studies and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system was used. This study was neither funded nor registered. FINDINGS: The search returned 191 records; 186 were screened after deduplication. Inclusion criteria were met by six randomized controlled trials (RCT), four reported on fezolinetant, and two reported on elinzanetant. One record was a post hoc analysis of a fezolinetant RCT. An additional study was identified outside the database search. Three fezolinetant RCT demonstrated a reduction in VMS frequency/severity, improvement in Menopause-Specific Quality of Life scores, and improvement in sleep quality at weeks 4 and 12 compared with placebo without serious adverse events. The two RCT on elinzanetant also showed improvements in VMS frequency and severity. All eight records evaluated safety through treatment-emergent adverse events; the most common adverse events were COVID-19, headache, somnolence, and gastrointestinal. Each record evaluated had a low risk of bias. There is a strong certainty of evidence as per the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Because of the high-quality evidence supporting the efficacy of fezolinetant and elinzanetant, these agents may be an effective option with mild adverse events for women seeking nonhormone treatment of VMS.

Emerging roles of SIRT1 activator, SRT2104, in disease treatment.

Silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) is a NAD+-dependent class III deacetylase that plays important roles in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases, positioning it as a prime candidate for therapeutic intervention. Among its modulators, SRT2104 emerges as the most specific small molecule activator of SIRT1, currently advancing into the clinical translation phase. The primary objective of this review is to evaluate the emerging roles of SRT2104, and to explore its potential as a therapeutic agent in various diseases. In the present review, we systematically summarized the findings from an extensive array of literature sources including the progress of its application in disease treatment and its potential molecular mechanisms by reviewing the literature published in databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. We focuses on the strides made in employing SRT2104 for disease treatment, elucidating its potential molecular underpinnings based on preclinical and clinical research data. The findings reveal that SRT2104, as a potent SIRT1 activator, holds considerable therapeutic potential, particularly in modulating metabolic and longevity-related pathways. This review establishes SRT2104 as a leading SIRT1 activator with significant therapeutic promise.

Efficacy and Safety of Fezolinetant for the Treatment of Menopause-Associated Vasomotor Symptoms: A Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and adverse events of fezolinetant for treating vasomotor symptoms (VMS) of menopause. DATA SOURCES: PubMed/MEDLINE, ClinicalTrials.gov , EMBASE, Cochrane Database, Scopus, and WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform were searched through June 2023 for publications and randomized controlled trials on fezolinetant compared with placebo in menopausal women who experienced moderate-to-severe VMS. METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION: Our literature search identified 330 articles, of which five studies with six reports were included in our meta-analysis per our eligibility criteria. TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS: The risk of bias was evaluated using Cochrane's RoB 2 (Risk of Bias version 2) tool, quality of evidence was graded using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) approach, and outcome measures data for effect size were pooled in random-effects model and rated. A total of 2,168 participants from five randomized clinical trials (six reports) were included. Fezolinetant significantly lowered VMS frequency, with pooled mean difference of 2.62 (95% CI, 1.84-3.41). The pooled mean difference for fezolinetant compared with placebo for the MENQOL (Menopause-Specific Quality of Life) measure was -0.60 (95% CI, -0.92 to -0.28), and the mean percentage improvement in VMS frequency was 22.51% (95% CI, 15.35-29.67). Fezolinetant was associated with improvement in sleep quality when compared with placebo. CONCLUSION: Fezolinetant is effective in lowering moderate-to-severe VMS frequency and sleep disturbances in postmenopausal women. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO, CRD42023427616.

A Novel Nonhormonal Treatment for Vasomotor Symptoms of Menopause.

Vasomotor symptoms of menopause, more commonly called hot flashes and night sweats, affect up to 80% of individuals going through the menopausal transition. Hormone therapy with estrogen and often progesterone is the most effective treatment for these symptoms. Many people, however, cannot take estrogen or do not want to take hormones. Many individuals seek nonhormonal, over-the-counter treatment options that have little safety and efficacy information to support their use. In March 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved fezolinetant (Veozah), a neurokinin 3 receptor antagonist for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms of menopause. This article presents an overview of fezolinetant, including appropriate usage, adverse effects, its use in special populations, and implications for nursing practice.

Cost-Effectiveness of Vericiguat in Patients With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction: The VICTORIA Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: The VICTORIA trial (Vericiguat Global Study in Subjects With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction) demonstrated that, in patients with high-risk heart failure, vericiguat reduced the primary composite outcome of cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalization relative to placebo. The hazard ratio for all-cause mortality was 0.95 (95% CI, 0.84-1.07). In a prespecified analysis, treatment effects varied substantially as a function of baseline NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide) levels, with survival benefit for vericiguat in the lower NT-proBNP quartiles (hazard ratio, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.69-0.97]) and no benefit in the highest NT-proBNP quartile (hazard ratio, 1.14 [95% CI, 0.95-1.38]). An economic analysis was a major secondary objective of the VICTORIA research program. METHODS: Medical resource use data were collected for all VICTORIA patients (N=5050). Costs were estimated by applying externally derived US cost weights to resource use counts. Life expectancy was projected from patient-level empirical trial survival results with the use of age-based survival modeling methods. Quality-of-life adjustments were based on prospectively collected EQ-5D-based utilities. The primary outcome was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, comparing vericiguat with placebo, assessed from the US health care sector perspective over a lifetime horizon. Cost-effectiveness was estimated using the total VICTORIA cohort, both with and without interaction between treatment and baseline NT-proBNP. RESULTS: Life expectancy modeling results varied according to whether the observed heterogeneity of treatment effect by baseline NT-proBNP values was incorporated into the modeling. Including the interaction term, the vericiguat arm had an estimated quality-adjusted life expectancy of 4.56 quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) compared with 4.13 QALYs for placebo (incremental discounted QALY, 0.43). Without the treatment heterogeneity/interaction term, vericiguat had 4.50 QALYs compared with 4.33 QALYs for placebo (incremental discounted QALY, 0.17). Incremental discounted costs (vericiguat minus placebo) were $28 546 with the treatment interaction and $20 948 without it. Corresponding incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were $66 509 per QALY allowing for treatment heterogeneity and $124 512 without heterogeneity. CONCLUSIONS: Vericiguat use in the VICTORIA trial met criteria for intermediate value, but the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio estimates were sensitive to whether the analysis accounted for observed NT-proBNP treatment effect heterogeneity. The cost-effectiveness of vericiguat was driven by the projected incremental life expectancy among patients in the lowest 3 quartiles of NT-proBNP. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov; Unique identifier: NCT02861534.

Efficacy and safety of vericiguat in heart failure: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of vericiguat in patients with heart failure (HF). METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive literature review of the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases up to 14 December 2022 for studies comparing vericiguat with placebo in patients with HF. Clinical data were extracted and cardiovascular deaths, adverse effects, and HF-related hospitalization were analyzed using Review Manager software (version 5.3), after quality assessment of the enrolled studies. RESULTS: Four studies (6705 patients) were included in this meta-analysis. There were no significant differences in the basic characteristics of the included studies. There was no significant difference in adverse effects between the vericiguat group and placebo group, and no significant differences between the groups in terms of cardiovascular death and HF hospitalization. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis indicated that vericiguat was not an effective drug for HF; however, more clinical trials are required to verify its efficacy.

Efficacy and Safety of Vericiguat for Treatment of Heart Failure: A Systematic Review.

Heart failure is a growing global health concern with high mortality and morbidity. Beta-blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, and angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors are the treatments of choice for worsening clinical symptoms. In early 2021, the FDA approved a new oral soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator, Vericiguat, for the treatment of chronic heart failure. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of this approved drug, we conducted a systematic review of the available randomized controlled trials (RCTs). A literature search was conducted using PubMed, The Cochrane Library, and Clinicaltrials.gov from inception to June 6, 2022, without any language restriction. The systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The quality of the included studies was checked using the Cochrane Risk-of-Bias tool. After a thorough literature search, 7 studies met our pre-defined criteria and were therefore included in this review. Our review suggests that vericiguat was better in preventing all causes of death, cardiovascular death, and hospitalizations due to heart failure irrespective of the atrial fibrillation status of the patients and was even beneficial for patients with NT-proBNP levels up to 8000 pg/ml. The safety of the vericiguat, according to our review, is not up to the standards, especially with a higher dosage of vericiguat. Despite all of this, vericiguat can be a breakthrough in the treatment of heart failure as it has great potential to improve the disease severity.

Vericiguat en insuficiencia cardíaca: de la evidencia científica a la práctica clínica / Vericiguat in heart failure: from scientific evidence to clinical practice

A pesar de los tratamientos actuales, el riesgo de muerte y hospitalizaciones en pacientes con insuficiencia cardíaca con fracción de eyección reducida (IC-FEr) sigue siendo elevado. La fisiopatología de la IC-FEr incluye activación neurohormonal caracterizada por la estimulación de las vías deletéreas (sistemas simpático y renina-angiotensina-aldosterona) y la supresión de las vías protectoras como las dependientes del óxido nítrico. La inhibición o estimulación de algunas de estas vías, pero no de todas, es insuficiente. En la IC-FEr existe una menor actividad de óxido nítrico, guanilato ciclasa soluble y GMPc que provoca efectos deletéreos a nivel miocárdico, vascular y renal. Vericiguat estimula la actividad de esta vía protectora. El estudio VICTORIA demostró, en pacientes con IC-FEr y descompensación reciente, que la adición de vericiguat al tratamiento médico óptimo reducía de forma significativa la incidencia del objetivo primario compuesto de muerte cardiovascular u hospitalización por IC, con un número de 24 pacientes que es necesario tratar, y una excelente tolerabilidad (AU)

Despite currently available treatments, risk of death and hospitalizations in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) remains high. The pathophysiology of HFrEF includes neurohormonal activation characterized by stimulation of deleterious pathways (i.e., sympathetic nervous and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone systems) and suppression of protective pathways such as nitric oxide-dependent pathways. Inhibition or stimulation of some, but not all, of these pathways is insufficient. In HFrEF, there is reduced nitric oxide, soluble guanylate cyclase, and cGMP activity, leading to deleterious effects in the myocardial, vascular, and renal systems. Vericiguat is able to stimulate the activity of this protective pathway. The VICTORIA study demonstrated that the addition of vericiguat to optimal medical treatment in patients with HFrEF and recent decompensation significantly reduced the incidence of the primary endpoint, a composite of cardiovascular death or HF hospitalization, with a number needed to treat of 24 patients and excellent tolerability (AU)

Vericiguat in heart failure: From scientific evidence to clinical practice.

Despite currently available treatments, risk of death and hospitalizations in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) remains high. The pathophysiology of HFrEF includes neurohormonal activation characterized by stimulation of deleterious pathways (i.e., sympathetic nervous and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone systems) and suppression of protective pathways such as nitric oxide-dependent pathways. Inhibition or stimulation of some, but not all, of these pathways is insufficient. In HFrEF, there is reduced nitric oxide, soluble guanylate cyclase, and cGMP activity, leading to deleterious effects in the myocardial, vascular, and renal systems. Vericiguat is able to stimulate the activity of this protective pathway. The VICTORIA study demonstrated that the addition of vericiguat to optimal medical treatment in patients with HFrEF and recent decompensation significantly reduced the incidence of the primary endpoint, a composite of cardiovascular death or HF hospitalization, with a number needed to treat of 24 patients and excellent tolerability.

Development of vericiguat: The first soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulator launched for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

In recent years, with improvements in treatments for heart failure (HF), the survival period of patients has been extended. However, the emergence of some patients with repeated hospitalizations due to their worsening conditions and low survival rates followed. Currently, few drugs are available for such patients. Vericiguat was first drug approved for the treatment of symptomatic patients with chronic HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) to reduce the occurrence of worsening HF. This article provides comprehensive information about vericiguat in terms of drug design and development, structure-activity relationship (SAR), synthesis, pharmacological efficacy, and clinical practice. In addition, insights into the current vericiguat trials and treatments of HF are also discussed.

Vericiguat in patients with coronary artery disease and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

AIMS: Coronary artery disease (CAD) portends worse outcomes in heart failure (HF). We aimed to characterize patients with CAD and worsening HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and evaluate post hoc whether vericiguat treatment effect varied according to CAD. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cox proportional hazards were generated for the primary endpoint of cardiovascular death or HF hospitalization (CVD/HFH). CAD was defined as previous myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention, or coronary artery bypass grafting. Of 5048 patients in VICTORIA with available data on CAD status, 2704 had CAD and were older, were more frequently male, diabetic, and had a lower glomerular filtration rate than those without CAD (all p <0.0001). Use of implantable cardioverter defibrillators and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) was higher in patients with versus without CAD (33.5% vs. 21.1%; p <0.0001 and 16.3% vs. 12.8%; p = 0.0006). The primary endpoint of CVD/HFH was higher in those with versus without CAD (40.6 vs. 30.1/100 patient-years; adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.23; p <0.001) as was all-cause mortality (17.9% vs. 12.7%; adjusted HR 1.32; p <0.001). The primary outcome of CVD/HFH associated with vericiguat in patients with or without CAD was 38.8 versus 27.6 per 100 patient-years and for placebo was 42.6 versus 32.7 per 100 patient-years (interaction p = 0.78). CONCLUSION: In this post hoc study, CAD was associated with more CVD and HFH in patients with HFrEF and worsening HF. Vericiguat was beneficial and safe regardless of concomitant CAD.

AZD5153 reverses palbociclib resistance in ovarian cancer by inhibiting cell cycle-related proteins and the MAPK/PI3K-AKT pathway.

The CDK4/6 inhibitor, palbociclib has recently entered clinic-trial stage for breast cancer treatment. However, translating its efficacy to other solid tumors has been challenging, especially for aggressive solid tumors. We found that the effect of palbociclib as a single agent was limited due to primary and acquired resistance in multiple ovarian cancer (OC) models. Among these, patient-derived organoid and xenograft models are two most representative models of drug responsiveness in patients with OC. In preclinical models, this study demonstrated that activated MAPK/PI3K-AKT pathway and cell cycle-related proteins induced the resistance to palbociclib, which was overcome by the addition of the bromodomain protein 4 (BRD4) inhibitor AZD5153. Moreover, this study revealed that AZD5153 and palbociclib had a synergistic lethal effect on inducing the cell cycle arrest and increasing apoptosis, even in RB-deficient cell lines. Based on these results, it is anticipated that this class of drugs, including AZD5153, which inhibit the cell cycle-related protein and MAPK/PI3K-AKT pathway, will exhibit synergistic effects with palbociclib in OC.

The place of vericiguat in the landscape of treatment for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

The significant morbidity and mortality associated with heart failure with reduced (HFrEF) or preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) justify the search for novel therapeutic agents. The nitric oxide (NO)-soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC)-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) pathway plays an important role in the regulation of cardiovascular function. This pathway is disrupted in HF resulting in decreased protection against myocardial injury. The sGC activator cinaciguat increases cGMP levels by direct, NO-independent activation of sGC, and may be particularly effective in conditions of increased oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction, and then reduced NO levels, but this comes at the expense of a greater risk of hypotension. Conversely, sGC stimulators (riociguat and vericiguat) enhance sGC sensitivity to endogenous NO, and then exert a more physiological action. The phase 3 VICTORIA trial found that vericiguat is safe and effective in patients with HFrEF and recent HF decompensation. Therefore, adding vericiguat may be considered in individual patients with HFrEF, particularly those at higher risk of HF hospitalization; the efficacy of the sacubitril/valsartan-vericiguat combination in HFrEF is currently unknown.

Omarigliptin protects against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by ameliorating oxidative stress and inflammation.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent liver disease with high morbidity. Omarigliptin is a novel antidiabetic drug that inhibits dipeptidyl peptidase-4 and alleviates inflammation and insulin resistance. In the present study, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidative stress property of omarigliptin will be investigated to explore the potential therapeutic effects of omarigliptin on NAFLD in mice models. A high-fat diet (HFD) was used to induce a NAFLD model in mice. Hematoxylin-eosin staining and detection on the concentrations of total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) were used to evaluate lipid accumulation of the liver tissues. Liver function was evaluated by measuring aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase. The insulin resistance index, the concentration of glucose, and insulin in the serum were determined. The levels of malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase activities were detected to access the oxidative stress state. The concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-6, and CXCL1 were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Western blot analysis was used to determine the expression levels of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65 and SIRT1 in the liver tissues. Significant elevated body weight and liver weight, marked macrovesicular steatosis combined with hepatocellular ballooning on the liver tissues, accumulated TC and TG concentrations, damaged liver function, increased oxidative stress, and elevated production of inflammatory factors were all induced with an HFD and significantly reversed by treatment with omarigliptin. Also, the activated NF-κB signaling pathway, as well as suppressed SIRT1 expression level, were significantly reversed by omarigliptin. Omarigliptin protected against NAFLD by ameliorating oxidative stress and inflammation.

Drug Treatment of Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction: Defining the Role of Vericiguat.

Vericiguat, a novel stimulator of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), has shown promising results in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) in the recent VICTORIA trial. The nitric oxide (NO)-sGC-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) signaling pathway is disturbed in heart failure, leading to increased formation of reactive oxygen species and reduced NO bioavailability, and resultant myocardial dysfunction, adverse left ventricular remodeling, and cardiorenal syndrome. Restoration of sufficient NO-sGC-cGMP signaling has been proposed as an important treatment target in heart failure, beyond neurohormonal blockage and afterload reduction. Vericiguat has a dual mode of action on this axis, it both sensitizes sGC to low levels of NO, and can directly stimulate sGC in the absence of any endogenous NO. VICTORIA was a Phase 3 trial that compared vericiguat, at a target dose of 10 mg, with placebo in 5050 patients with HFrEF (ejection fraction < 45%) on top of guideline-indicated therapy. The composite endpoint was the first occurrence of cardiovascular death or hospitalization for heart failure. The median follow up was 10.8 months. The included patients had to have had a heart failure-related hospitalization or need of IV diuretic therapy in the past 6 months, making it a particularly high risk and vulnerable patient population. The composite endpoint occurred less frequently with vericiguat than with placebo (35.5% vs 38.5%, p = 0.02). Adverse events were common in both groups, syncope was more common with vericiguat than with placebo (4% vs 3.5%, p = 0.03). Compared to the other recent large trials in HFrEF, PARADIGM-HF and DAPA-HF, patients in VICTORIA were older, more symptomatic (up to 40% NYHA IIIIV class), had higher N-terminal-pro hormone B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels, and were more vulnerable since 84% had been hospitalized for heart failure in the previous 6 months. While drugs involving the neurohormonal pathways are effective in slowing down the progression of disease in more stable HFrEF, vericiguat may be a drug of choice particularly in the highest risk patients with recent or recurrent hospitalizations despite full background medication. The drug has also shown safety in patients with reduced renal function. This article discusses the place in therapy of vericiguat in patients with HFrEF, which is a heterogenous group in terms of etiology, clinical profiles, and comorbidities.

Randomized Controlled Trial of Neurokinin 3 Receptor Antagonist Fezolinetant for Treatment of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

CONTEXT: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a highly prevalent endocrine disorder characterized by hyperandrogenism, is the leading cause of anovulatory infertility. OBJECTIVE: This proof-of-concept study evaluated clinical efficacy and safety of the neurokinin 3 (NK3) receptor antagonist fezolinetant in PCOS. METHODS: This was a phase 2a, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study (EudraCT 2014-004409-34). The study was conducted at 5 European clinical centers. Women with PCOS participated in the study. Interventions included fezolinetant 60 or 180 mg/day or placebo for 12 weeks. The primary efficacy end point was change in total testosterone. Gonadotropins, ovarian hormones, safety and tolerability were also assessed. RESULTS: Seventy-three women were randomly assigned, and 64 participants completed the study. Adjusted mean (SE) changes in total testosterone from baseline to week 12 for fezolinetant 180 and 60 mg/day were -0.80 (0.13) and -0.39 (0.12) nmol/L vs -0.05 (0.10) nmol/L with placebo (P < .001 and P < .05, respectively). Adjusted mean (SE) changes from baseline in luteinizing hormone (LH) for fezolinetant 180 and 60 mg/d were -10.17 (1.28) and -8.21 (1.18) vs -3.16 (1.04) IU/L with placebo (P < .001 and P = .002); corresponding changes in follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were -1.46 (0.32) and -0.92 (0.30) vs -0.57 (0.26) IU/L (P = .03 and P = .38), underpinning a dose-dependent decrease in the LH-to-FSH ratio vs placebo (P < .001). Circulating levels of progesterone and estradiol did not change significantly vs placebo (P > .10). Fezolinetant was well tolerated. CONCLUSION: Fezolinetant had a sustained effect to suppress hyperandrogenism and reduce the LH-to-FSH ratio in women with PCOS.

Recent advances in pharmacological treatment of heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Over the last years, several trials offered new evidence on heart failure (HF) treatment. DESIGN AND RESULTS: For HF with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, type 2 sodium-glucose cotransporter inhibitors, aside from sacubitril-valsartan, demonstrated extraordinary efficacy in ameliorating patients' prognosis. Some new molecules (eg vericiguat, omecamtiv mecarbil and ferric carboxymaltose) correct iron deficiency and have shown to be capable of furthering reducing the burden of HF hospitalisation. Finally, there is new evidence on the possible therapeutic approaches of HF patients with mid-range or preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. CONCLUSIONS: This review aimed to revise the main novelties in the field of HF therapy and focus on how the daily clinical approach to patient treatment is changing.

Mechanisms and Models in Heart Failure: A Translational Approach.

Despite multiple attempts to develop a unifying hypothesis that explains the pathophysiology of heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), no single conceptual model has withstood the test of time. In the present review, we discuss how the results of recent successful phase III clinical development programs in HFrEF are built upon existing conceptual models for drug development. We will also discuss where recent successes in clinical trials do not fit existing models to identify areas where further refinement of current paradigms may be needed. To provide the necessary structure for this review, we will begin with a brief overview of the pathophysiology of HFrEF, followed by an overview of the current conceptual models for HFrEF, and end with an analysis of the scientific rationale and clinical development programs for 4 new therapeutic classes of drugs that have improved clinical outcomes in HFrEF. The 4 new therapeutic classes discussed are ARNIs, SGLT2 (sodium-glucose cotransporter 2) inhibitors, soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators, and myosin activators. With the exception of SGLT2 inhibitors, each of these therapeutic advances was informed by the insights provided by existing conceptual models of heart failure. Although the quest to determine the mechanism of action of SGLT2 inhibitors is ongoing, this therapeutic class of drugs may represent the most important advance in cardiovascular therapeutics of recent decades and may lead to rethinking or expanding our current conceptual models for HFrEF.