Vericiguat is a new class of drugs for the treatment of chronic heart failure

Leonova M.V.

Interregional Public Оrganization «Association of Clinical Pharmacologists» (Moscow branch), Moscow, Russia

Vericiguat is the first in a new pharmacological class of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulators, recently discovered and approved for the treatment of heart failure (HF). Vericiguat has a unique mechanism of action – it specifically targets the NO-sGC-cGMP pathway, which plays a key role in the pathophysiology of HF. By increasing cGMP, vericiguat enhances the natural mechanisms of cardiac contractility and vasodilation, improving cardiac function and alleviating symptoms in patients with HFrEF. This mechanism of action makes vericiguat a valuable adjunct to HF therapy for improving treatment outcomes. Based on the results of large RCTs, vericiguat is considered a second-line therapy for patients with the HF phenotype and low EF as an adjunct to guideline-based therapy. Vericiguat has been approved by the FDA and EMEA as the first sGC-stimulating agent for the treatment of patients with recently worsened CHF with reduced ejection fraction (REF) to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization. The drug has a well-studied biopharmaceutical, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic profile, allowing for once-daily administration. It also has a limited spectrum of drug interactions and is well-tolerated in CHF patients. With further study, vericiguat has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of CHF by improving outcomes and quality of life.

For citations: Leonova M.V. Vericiguat is a new class of drugs for the treatment of chronic heart failure. Pharmateca. 2026;33(1):25-32. (In Russ.). DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/pharmateca.2026.1.25-32

Conflicts of interest: The authors confirm that they have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Funding: The study was conducted without any sponsorship.

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About the Authors

Marina V. Leonova, Dr. Sci. (Med.), Professor, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, Member of the Interregional Public Organization «Association of Clinical Pharmacologists» (Moscow Branch), Moscow, Russia; anti23@mail.ru; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8228-1114, eLibrary SPIN: 3281-7884

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