The Therapeutic Efficacy and Clinical Implications of Vericiguat in the Management of Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF)
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Abstract
Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) remains a formidable clinical challenge, necessitating innovative pharmacological interventions to mitigate morbidity and mortality. Vericiguat, a novel oral soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulator, has emerged as a promising therapeutic agent, targeting the nitric oxide (NO)-sGC-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) pathway to enhance myocardial and vascular function. The pivotal VICTORIA (Vericiguat Global Study in Subjects with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction) trial demonstrated a significant reduction in the composite endpoint of cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalization in high-risk HFrEF patients when vericiguat was added to standard guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT). This article comprehensively reviews the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties of vericiguat, its mechanistic role in HFrEF pathophysiology, and the critical findings from the VICTORIA trial. Furthermore, we discuss the clinical implications of vericiguat in contemporary HFrEF management, including its potential integration into existing therapeutic algorithms and its impact on patient-centered outcomes.
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