Patent focus on agents affecting cardiovascular and renal functions November 1999 - March 2000

Patent applications relevant to therapy of cardiovascular diseases are reviewed for the period of November 1999 to March 2000. Most of the patents discussed deal with agents affecting blood clotting, membrane ionic currents, hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia. The development and evaluation of several new therapeutic agents for treatment of blood coagulation disorders are discussed, including glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa antagonists, activators of protease-activated receptors, P2T receptor antagonists, adenosine receptor agonists and serine protease inhibitors. Interesting new blockers of the sodium-proton exchange, the N-type calcium channels and the ultrarapid delayed rectifier potassium current (IKur) are introduced. Antihypertensive agents are presented including angiotensin II receptor antagonists, vasopressin antagonists and phosphodiesterase inhibitors. Compounds effective against hypercholesterolaemia, especially inhibitors of cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) and acyl coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) are also addressed. Agents acting via other mechanisms, like the nitric oxide-cGMP (NO-cGMP) pathway, that are involved in cardiovascular effects are discussed.