Ivabradine (CORLANOR®) is a hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channel blocker that reduces the spontaneous pacemaker activity of the cardiac sinus node by selectively inhibiting the If-current, resulting in heart rate reduction at concentrations that do not affect other cardiac ionic currents. Specific heart-rate lowering with ivabradine (CORLANOR®) reduces myocardial oxygen demand, simultaneously improving oxygen supply. It has no negative inotropic or lusitropic effects, preserving ventricular contractility, and does not change any major electrophysiological parameters unrelated to heart rate.

Macitentan is an orally active, dual endothelin receptor antagonist with tissue targeting properties. Macitentan inhibits both ETA and ETB receptors and prevents them from binding to ET-1. Macitentan displays high affinity and sustained occupancy of the ET receptors in human pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells. One of the metabolites of macitentan is also pharmacologically active at the ET receptors and is estimated to be about 20% as potent as the parent drug in vitro. Macitentan is approved in the EU (as monotherapy or combination therapy) for the long-term treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in adults of WHO functional class II or III, and in the USA for the treatment of PAH (WHO group I) to delay disease progression and reduce hospitalization for PAH.

Riociguat is a potent, oral stimulator of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC). It is the first member of a novel class of compounds, being developed by Bayer as an investigational, oral treatment to target a key molecular mechanism underlying pulmonary hypertension (PH). Riociguat demonstrated robust clinical efficacy in two separate PH indications: chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) and pulmonary arterial hypertension(PAH). Riociguat works in two ways: it sensitizes sGC to endogenous NO by stabilizing the NO-sGC binding and directly stimulates sGC via a different binding site, independently of NO. Riociguat stimulates the NO-sGC-cGMP pathway and leads to increased generation of cGMP with subsequent vasodilation. Through this unique way of working, riociguat decreases blood pressure within the pulmonary arteries that take blood from the heart to the lungs, reducing pressure on the heart leading to improved patient outcomes.

Lomitapide (INN, marketed as Juxtapid in the US and as Lojuxta in the EU) is a drug for the treatment of familial hypercholesterolemia, developed by Aegerion Pharmaceuticals. It has been tested in clinical trials as single treatment and in combinations with atorvastatin, ezetimibe and fenofibrate. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved lomitapide on 21 December 2012, as an orphan drug to reduce LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, and non-high-density lipoprotein (non-HDL) cholesterol in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH). On 31 May 2013 the European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) adopted a positive opinion with a unanimous vote recommending a marketing authorization for lomitapide. On 31 July 2013 the European Commission approved lomitapide as an adjunct to a low-fat diet and other lipid-lowering medicinal products with or without low density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis in adult patients with HoFH. UXTAPID directly binds and inhibits microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP), which resides in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum, thereby preventing the assembly of apo B containing lipoproteins in enterocytes and hepatocytes. This inhibits the synthesis of chylomicrons and VLDL. The inhibition of the synthesis of VLDL leads to reduced levels of plasma LDL-C.

Icatibant (trade name Firazyr) is a synthetic peptidomimetic drug consisting of ten amino acids, and acts as an effective and specific antagonist of bradykinin B2 receptors. It has been approved in the EU for use in hereditary angioedema, and is under investigation for a number of other conditions in which bradykinin is thought to play a significant role. Icatibant currently has orphan drug status in the United States and FDA approved on August 25, 2011. Icatibant inhibits bradykinin from binding the B2 receptor and thereby treats the clinical symptoms of an acute, episodic attack of HAE.

Pitavastatin is a new synthetic 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase) inhibitor, which was developed, and has been available in Japan since July 2003. Metabolism of pitavastatin by the cytochrome P450 (CYP) system is minimal, principally through CYP 2C9, with little involvement of the CYP 3A4 isoenzyme, potentially reducing the risk of drug-drug interactions between pitavastatin and other drugs known to inhibit CYP enzymes. To date, human and animal studies have shown pitavastatin to be potentially as effective in lowering LDL-cholesterol levels as rosuvastatin. Pitavastatin under the trade name Livalo is indicated as an adjunctive therapy to diet to reduce elevated total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), apolipoprotein B (Apo B), triglycerides (TG), and to increase HDL-C in adult patients with primary hyperlipidemia or mixed dyslipidemia. Pitavastatin competitively inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, which is a rate-determining enzyme involved with biosynthesis of cholesterol, in a manner of competition with the substrate so that it inhibits cholesterol synthesis in the liver. As a result, the expression of LDL-receptors followed by the uptake of LDL from blood to liver is accelerated and then the plasma TC decreases. Further, the sustained inhibition of cholesterol synthesis in the liver decreases levels of very low density lipoproteins. Common statin-related side effects (headaches, stomach upset, abnormal liver function tests and muscle cramps) were similar to other statins.

Dronedarone is an antiarrhythmic that is FDA approved for the treatment of atrial fibrillation in patients in sinus rhythm with a history of paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). Dronedarone is multichannel blocker. Common adverse reactions include abdominal pain, diarrhea, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, asthenia and raised serum creatinine. Dronedarone has potentially important pharmacodynamics interactions: Digoxin: Consider discontinuation or halve dose of digoxin before treatment and monitor; Calcium channel blockers (CCB): Initiate CCB with low dose and increase after ECG verification of tolerability; Beta-blockers: May provoke excessive bradycardia, Initiate with low dose and increase after ECG verification of tolerability.

Tolvaptan is a selective and competitive arginine vasopressin receptor 2 antagonist. Vasopressin acts on the V2 receptors found in the walls of the vasculature and luminal membranes of renal collecting ducts. By blocking V2 receptors in the renal collecting ducts, aquaporins do not insert themselves into the walls thus preventing water absorption. This action ultimately results in an increase in urine volume, decrease urine osmolality, and increase electrolyte-free water clearance to reduce intravascular volume and an increase serum sodium levels. Tolvaptan is especially useful for heart failure patients as they have higher serum levels of vasopressin. Tolvaptan is used to treat low blood sodium levels (hyponatremia) associated with various conditions like congestive heart failure, cirrhosis, and syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormones (SIADH). FDA approved on May 19, 2009. Tolvaptan is sold under the trade names Samsca and Jinarc.

Clevidipine is a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker. Clevidipine is marketed under the trade name Cleviprex, indicated for the reduction of blood pressure (BP) when oral therapy is not feasible or not desirable. Clevidipine is a dihydropyridine L-type calcium channel blocker. L-type calcium channels mediate the influx of calcium during depolarization in arterial smooth muscle. Experiments in anesthetized rats and dogs show that clevidipine reduces mean arterial blood pressure by decreasing systemic vascular resistance. Clevidipine does not reduce cardiac filling pressure (pre-load), confirming lack of effects on the venous capacitance vessels.

Regadenoson (Lexiscan), a low affinity agonist of the A2A adenosine receptor, increases coronary blood flow (CBF) and mimics the increase in CBF caused by exercise. Myocardial uptake of the radiopharmaceutical is proportional to CBF creating the contrast required to identify stenotic coronary arteries. It is a pharmacologic stress agent indicated for radionuclide myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) in patients unable to undergo adequate exercise stress. The most common adverse reactions to Lexiscan are dyspnea, headache, flushing, chest discomfort, dizziness, angina pectoris, chest pain, and nausea. Methylxanthines, e.g., caffeine and theophylline, may interfere with the activity of Lexiscan. Aminophylline may be used to attenuate severe and/or persistent adverse reactions to Lexiscan.