sGC stimulator reduces CV death and HF hospitalization in HFrEF patients with worsening HF

Introduction and methods

News - Mar. 28, 2020

The VICTORIA (Vericiguat Global Study In Subjects With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction) Trial

Presented at ACC.20 by Paul Wayne Armstrong (Edmonton, AB, Canada) .

Patient with chronic heart failure (HF) who experience a worsening HF event have a high risk of death or HF hospitalization despite guideline-based therapy. Although therapies exist for management of HF symptoms, HFrEF patients with worsening conditions have limited options. Oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction in HF patients lead to decreased levels of nitric oxide (NO) and decreased soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) activity, which may result in myocardial and vascular dysfunction.

Phase IIb trials in HF patients have shown beneficial effects with the novel sGC stimulator vericiguat. Vericiguat enhances cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) production, which plays a role in myocardial and vascular function.

The VICTORIA (Vericiguat Global Study In Subjects With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction) trial examined whether use of vericiguat reduced the primary end point, a composite of CV mortality and first HF hospitalization, in HF patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) after a recent worsening HF event. In addition, safety of treatment with vericiguat was assessed. Inclusion criteria included hospitalization within last 6 months or therapy with IV diuretics within last 3 months. 5050 Patients were randomized to vericiguat or placebo on top of guideline-based therapy. Median follow-up was 10.8 months.

Main results

  • The primary endpoint of CV death and first HF hospitalization was reduced in the vericiguat group compared to the placebo group (HR 0.90, 95%CI: 0.82-0.98, P=0.019). Absolute event reduction with vericiguat was 4.2 per 100 patient-years.
  • Vericiguat reduced HF hospitalization (first and recurrent) compared to placebo (HR 0.90, 95%CI: 0.81-1.00, P=0.048).
  • CV death was not statistically significant different between those who received vericiguat or placebo.
  • Vericiguat (titrated up to dose of 10 mg) was generally safe and well tolerated. Symptomatic hypotension occurred slightly more in those receiving vericiguat compared to placebo group (9.1% vs. 7.9%), as well as syncope.

Conclusion

In this trial, high risk HFrEF patients with worsening HF were enrolled for whom there is an unmet need not addressed in prior HF studies. Therapy with sGC stimulator vericiguat reduced the primary endpoint of CV death and first HF hospitalization in these patients when compared to placebo. A new therapeutic target by enhancing cGMP production has been demonstrated in this trial.

Armstrong showed that the KM curves started separating after 3 months and persisted throughout the study. Subgroup analysis is under investigation and Armstrong said there are indications for difference in effectiveness of vericiguat when dividing patients based on NT-proBNP (those with the highest NT-proBNP show no benefit with vericiguat). But he also added that drawing conclusions from subgroup analysis is tempting, but can be dangerous.

Discussion

ACC president Richard Kovacs (Indianapolis, IN, USA) briefly discussed this study. He noted that BP monitoring is important with this drug. And he raised questions about cost-effectiveness and a low rate of inclusion of blacks, in particular black women, in this trial.

A question was asked about how to compare this drug to other novel HF drugs. Armstrong responded that simultaneously with the publication of this trial, a paper on the topic of comparing novel HF drugs is published in Circulation. He emphasized though that the VICTORIA trial was done in a particular HF population, those with worsening HF. In response to a question which percentage of HFrEF patients would be eligible for this drug, he estimated that this would be 1 in 4.

- Our coverage of ACC.20 is based on the information provided during the congress –

The VICTORIA results were published simultaneously in NEJM Watch a video by Paul Armstrong

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