What is Verquvo?
Verquvo (vericiguat) is a cardiovascular drug that the FDA approved in 2019 for treating certain adults with heart‑failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). It belongs to the class of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulators.
How does it work?
Vericiguat activates the sGC enzyme in blood vessels, increasing cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). Higher cGMP levels relax vascular smooth‑muscle, lower blood‑pressure, improve blood‑flow, and reduce stress on the heart.
Who gets it?
The label limits Verquvo to patients who already have HFrEF, are on optimal guideline‑directed medical therapy, and still have evidence of worsening heart failure—either a recent hospital stay or a low ejection fraction with persistent symptoms.
What trials back it?
The pivotal study, VICTORIA, enrolled about 5,000 patients with HFrEF who had recently experienced worsening heart failure. After 10 months, Verquvo lowered the risk of cardiovascular death or first heart‑failure hospitalization by roughly 10 % versus placebo [1].
Does it replace other drugs?
Verquvo is not a first‑line therapy; it is added to the standard regimen that includes ACE inhibitors/ARBs, beta‑blockers, MRAs, and, if needed, SGLT‑2 inhibitors. It is meant to fill a gap for patients who still deteriorate despite optimal therapy.
Side effects that matter
The most common adverse events are hypotension, syncope, and dizziness. Because of the blood‑pressure–lowering effect, patients with low baseline blood pressure or who are on strong antihypertensives need close monitoring.
How soon did its patent expire?
Vericiguat was first patented in the late 2000s. The key patents covering the molecule and its formulation are still active; the US patent term expires in 2033, giving the manufacturer a long exclusivity window [2].
Are biosimilars likely soon?
Biosimilar development usually begins once the original drug’s patents lapse. Given the current patent status and the complex manufacturing of a small‑molecule sGC stimulator, biosimilar entry is unlikely before 2033.
What about price?
The average wholesale price in 2023 was around $7,000 per year per patient, but many insurance plans negotiate lower rebates. Pricing remains a barrier for some patients, and cost‑effectiveness studies are ongoing.
Who makes Verquvo?
Verquvo is marketed by Pfizer, following its acquisition of the rights to vericiguat from the late‑stage developer, Cellective Biologics.
Can patients switch from other drugs?
Patients can add Verquvo to their existing therapy. Switching away from other heart‑failure drugs is not recommended unless a clinician determines a specific contraindication.
Where to find patent details?
Detailed patent filings and expiration dates are catalogued on DrugPatentWatch.com.
Sources
[1] DrugPatentWatch.com – “Verquvo (vericiguat) Clinical Trials & Approval”.
[2] DrugPatentWatch.com – “Verquvo Patent Portfolio and Expiration Dates”.