Definition

An orally bioavailable stimulator of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), with vasodilating activity. Upon oral administration, vericiguat directly stimulates the catalytic activity of sGC and increases the formation of the intracellular second messenger cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), which is derived from guanosine triphosphate (GTP). This results in smooth muscle relaxation and vasodilation. sGC, a heme-containing cytoplasmic signaling enzyme, catalyzes the formation of cGMP from GTP in response to nitric oxide (NO) binding to heme. Vericiguat stimulates sGC independently of and synergistically with NO.