Vericiguat Reduces Risk of HF Hospitalization, Cardiovascular Death in HFrEF Patients

Vericiguat (Merck and Bayer) reduced the risk of heart failure hospitalization or cardiovascular death in patients with worsening chronic heart failure, according to new phase 3 data.

The safety and efficacy of vericiguat, a soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator, is currently being evaluated in the VICTORIA trial, a placebo-controlled phase 3 study involving patients with worsening chronic heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) following a decompensation event (defined as heart failure hospitalization or receiving an intravenous diuretic for heart failure without hospitalization). 

Patients (N=5050) were randomized to receive vericiguat one daily or placebo in combination with other heart failure therapies. Time to first occurrence of a composite end point of cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalization was designated as the primary end point.

Results showed that treatment with vericiguat reduced the risk of the composite end point compared with placebo. Commenting on the results, Dr Joerg Moeller, member of the Executive Committee of Bayer AG’s Pharmaceutical Division and head of Research and Development, said: “We are pleased with the positive outcome with vericiguat as the first sGC stimulator evaluated in patients with worsening chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.” The full results from VICTORIA will be presented at a medical meeting in 2020. 

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