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Published on: May 26, 2022
Novel Therapeutic Approaches Targeting the Renin-Angiotensin System and Associated Peptides in Hypertension and Heart
Lauren B Arendse1, A H Jan Danser1, Marko Poglitsch1
1Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa (L.B.A., E.D.S.); Division of Pharmacology, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands (A.H.J.D.); Attoquant Diagnostics, Vienna, Austria (M.P.); Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom (R.M.T.); Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota (J.C.B.); Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Paris, France (C.L.-C.); and Clinical Trials Group, Immune Tolerance Network, San Francisco, California (M.R.E.).
Insights
Novel therapies targeting the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) offer improved cardiovascular protection. New drugs and gene therapy approaches aim to better control blood pressure and treat heart failure.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Pharmacology
- Renal Physiology
- Drug Development
Background:
- Current renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockade therapies (ACE inhibitors, AT1R blockers) show limitations in treating hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.
- Understanding of RAS complexity and associated vasoactive pathways has revealed new therapeutic targets.
- Novel strategies aim to modulate interconnected blood pressure-regulating pathways for enhanced efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review emerging therapeutic strategies for hypertension and cardiovascular diseases targeting the RAS.
- To highlight novel drug candidates and unconventional approaches in preclinical and early clinical development.
- To explore methods for improved cardiovascular protection and blood pressure management.
Main Methods:
- Focus on novel small molecule inhibitors and receptor agonists/antagonists.
- Exploration of gene therapy for angiotensinogen suppression at the RNA level.
- Investigation of recombinant ACE2 protein and novel bispecific designer peptides.
Main Results:
- Emerging therapies show potential for improved cardiovascular protection and blood pressure control.
- Dual-acting agents and combination therapies offer enhanced treatment efficacy.
- Upregulation of the ACE2/angiotensin-(1-7)/Mas axis presents a counter-regulatory strategy.
Conclusions:
- Advances in RAS research have opened new avenues for developing innovative drugs.
- Novel therapeutic approaches hold promise for better treatment of hypertension and heart failure.
- Targeting the RAS with new agents could lead to reduced adverse effects and improved patient outcomes.
Abstract:
Despite the success of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockade by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) blockers, current therapies for hypertension and related cardiovascular diseases are still inadequate. Identification of additional components of the RAS and associated vasoactive pathways, as well as new structural and functional insights into established targets, have led to novel therapeutic approaches with the potential to provide improved cardiovascular protection and better blood pressure control and/or reduced adverse side effects. The simultaneous modulation of several neurohumoral mediators in key interconnected blood pressure-regulating pathways has been an attractive approach to improve treatment efficacy, and several novel approaches involve combination therapy or dual-acting agents. In addition, increased understanding of the complexity of the RAS has led to novel approaches aimed at upregulating the ACE2/angiotensin-(1-7)/Mas axis to counter-regulate the harmful effects of the ACE/angiotensin II/angiotensin III/AT1R axis. These advances have opened new avenues for the development of novel drugs targeting the RAS to better treat hypertension and heart failure. Here we focus on new therapies in preclinical and early clinical stages of development, including novel small molecule inhibitors and receptor agonists/antagonists, less conventional strategies such as gene therapy to suppress angiotensinogen at the RNA level, recombinant ACE2 protein, and novel bispecific designer peptides.
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