Therapeutic patents for chronic heart failure: a review of patent applications from 1996 to 2002

Chronic heart failure (CHF) continues to represent an enormous clinical challenge. Despite the advent of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and β-blockers, the quality of life and survival of affected individuals remains unacceptably poor. Therefore, novel therapeutic approaches which may confer incremental prognostic benefits in CHF are urgently needed. In this article, a selection of the patents published between 1996 and 2002 that aim to ameliorate CHF using the following therapeutic modalities are reviewed: neurohormonal modulators, antiarrhythmic agents, antianaemia therapies, anabolic compounds, insulin sensitivity enhancers, xanthine oxidase inhibitors, immune modulators, antiapoptotic agents, stem cell therapy, gene therapy and other miscellaneous agents. The authors also attempt to highlight, where possible, the current evidence for the efficacy of such proposed strategies.