The FDA has approved vericiguat (Verquvo – Merck), an oral soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulator, to reduce the risk of hospitalization for heart failure and cardiovascular (CV) death following a worsening heart failure event (hospitalization for heart failure or treatment with IV diuretics as an outpatient) in patients with symptomatic chronic heart failure and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <45%. Vericiguat is the second sGC stimulator to be marketed in the US. Riociguat (Adempas), which is FDA-approved for treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension...

The sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor dapagliflozin (Farxiga), which was initially approved by the FDA for treatment of type 2 diabetes and then to reduce the risk of hospitalization for HF in adults who have type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease (CVD) or multiple cardiovascular risk factors, has now been approved for a third indication: to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure (HF) in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (with or without type 2 diabetes). It is the first SGLT2 inhibitor to...

Olmesartan medoxomil (Benicar - Sankyo), a substituted imidazole, is the seventh oral angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) approved by the FDA for treatment of hypertension.

The FDA has approved a fixed-dose combination of the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) azilsartan and the thiazide-like diuretic chlorthalidone as Edarbyclor (Takeda) for treatment of hypertension

The sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor empagliflozin (Jardiance – Boehringer Ingelheim) has been approved by the FDA for a third indication: to reduce the risk of hospitalization for heart failure (HF) and cardiovascular death in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), with or without type 2 diabetes. The SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin (Farxiga) was approved for the same indication in 2020. Empagliflozin has been granted breakthrough therapy designation for treatment of patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction...

The FDA has approved an expansion of the peripheral artery disease (PAD) indication for the oral direct factor Xa inhibitor rivaroxaban (Xarelto – Janssen) to include patients who have recently undergone a lower extremity revascularization procedure for symptomatic PAD (see Table 1). Rivaroxaban is the first direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) to be approved for use in patients with PAD.

The FDA has approved the dual endothelin receptor antagonist aprocitentan (Tryvio – Idorsia) for use in combination with other antihypertensive drugs to treat hypertension in adults whose blood pressure is not adequately controlled on other drugs. Three other dual endothelin receptor antagonists, ambrisentan (Volibris, and generics), bosentan (Tracleer, and generics), and macitentan (Opsumit), are available in the US for treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension.

The FDA has approved Prestalia (Symplmed), an oral fixed-dose combination of the dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker amlodipine (Norvasc, and generics) and a new salt form of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor perindopril, for treatment of hypertension in patients not adequately controlled on monotherapy or already taking both drugs, and in those just starting therapy who are likely to need multiple drugs to control their blood pressure. The new salt form (perindopril arginine) is more stable and has a longer shelf-life than perindopril erbumine (Aceon, and...

Perindopril, the tenth angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor to be marketed in the USA, and telmisartan and eprosartan, the fifth and sixth angiotensin receptor blockers, have recently become available for treatment of hypertension.

Aliskiren (Tekturna - Novartis), the first direct renin inhibitor for treatment of hypertension, has been approved for use in a fixed-dose combination with the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide (Tekturna HCT - Novartis). Many angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are also available in fixed-dose combinations with hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ).