New Class of Drug Aids Congestive Heart Failure

The first of a new class of drugs called B-type natriuretic peptides (hBNP) has demonstrated improvement in patients with acutely decompensated congestive heart failure (ADCHF). Called nesiritide (Natrecor), the drug has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the intravenous treatment of ADCHF patients.

A sudden increase in dietary sodium, failure to take chronic oral medications, or the development of a new heart event can precipitate ADCHF. In an acute episode, symptoms are so severe that often only intravenous medications administered in the hospital can improve the patient's health. Nesiritide is a recombinant form of hBNP, a natural protein found in the body. It is the first new drug to treat ADCHF patients in 14 years, says the developer, Scios Inc. (Sunnyvale, CA, USA; www.sciosinc.com). A trial involving almost 1,000 patients treated with nesiritide showed that the drug reduced pulmonary wedge pressure, an important measure of heart function, and also improved breathing.

"ADCHF is a large and growing medical problem for which we have had no new drugs in over a decade,” said James B. Young, M.D., of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation (OH, USA). "Natrecor helps improve breathing and decreases pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, the two most important things we can do for these patients.”




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