Levosimendan

Levosimendan
Clinical data
Trade names Simdax
AHFS/Drugs.com International Drug Names
Routes of
administration
IV
ATC code C01CX08 (WHO)
Legal status
Legal status
  • ℞ (Prescription only)
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability 85% (oral)
Protein binding 97–98%
Metabolism Extensive hepatic
Biological half-life ~1 hour (levosimendan), 75–80 hours (metabolites)
Excretion urine (54%), feces (44%)
Identifiers
CAS Number 141505-33-1 YesY
PubChem (CID) 3033825
DrugBank DB00922 YesY
ChemSpider 2298414 YesY
UNII C6T4514L4E YesY
KEGG D04720 YesY
ChEBI CHEBI:50567 YesY
ChEMBL CHEMBL313136 N
ECHA InfoCard 100.189.828
Chemical and physical data
Formula C14H12N6O
Molar mass 280.28 g/mol
3D model (Jmol) Interactive image
 NYesY (what is this?)  (verify)

Levosimendan (INN) /ˌlvsˈmɛndən/ is a calcium sensitiser used in the management of acutely decompensated congestive heart failure. It is marketed under the trade name Simdax (Orion Corporation).

Mechanism of action

Levosimendan is a calcium sensitizer — it increases the sensitivity of the heart to calcium, thus increasing cardiac contractility without a rise in intracellular calcium. Levosimendan exerts its positive inotropic effect by increasing calcium sensitivity of myocytes by binding to cardiac troponin C in a calcium-dependent manner. It also has a vasodilatory effect, by opening adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive potassium channels in vascular smooth muscle to cause smooth muscle relaxation. The combined inotropic and vasodilatory actions result in an increased force of contraction, decreased preload and decreased afterload. Moreover, by opening also the mitochondrial (ATP)-sensitive potassium channels in cardiomyocytes, the drug exerts a cardioprotective effect.[1]

Clinical use

Indications

Levosimendan is indicated for inotropic support in acutely-decompensated severe congestive heart failure.

Some of the Phase III studies in the extensive clinical program were the trials LIDO (200 patients), RUSSLAN (500), CASINO (250), REVIVE-I (100), REVIVE-II (600) and SURVIVE (1350). In total, the clinical data base includes more than 3500 patients in Phase IIb and III double-blind studies.[2]

In the SURVIVE study, despite a reduction in plasma B-type natriuretic peptide level in patients in the levosimendan group compared with patients in the dobutamine group, levosimendan did not significantly reduce all-cause mortality at 180 days.[3] However, the drug was proven to be superior to dobutamine for treating patients with a history of CHF or those on beta-blocker therapy when they are hospitalized with acute decompensations.[3]

In a meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies by Landoni et al. levosimendan is shown to reduce mortality and hospitalization.[4]

Licensing status

The Orion Corporation originally developed levosimendan and applied for a new drug application in 1998 in the U.S. However the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requested further trials be conducted and Orion withdrew the application in November 1999. Initially, Orion obtained the approval to market the drug in Sweden in 2000.[5] Since then 60 countries worldwide have approved the drug but it remains unapproved in North America, where it is currently in Phase III development by Tenax Therapeutics for reduction in morbidity and mortality of cardiac surgery patients at risk of low cardiac output syndrome.[6]

Contraindications

The use of levosimendan is contraindicated in patients with moderate-to-severe kidney impairment, severe liver impairment, severe ventricular filling or outflow obstruction, very low blood pressure and fast heart rate, and/or history of the abnormal heart rhythm torsades de pointes (Rossi, 2006).[7]

Adverse effects

Common adverse drug reactions (≥1% of patients) associated with levosimendan therapy include: headache, hypotension, arrhythmias (atrial fibrillation, extrasystoles, atrial tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia), myocardial ischaemia, hypokalaemia and/or nausea (Rossi, 2006).

Formulations

Levosimendan is marketed as a 2.5 mg/mL concentrated solution for IV infusion. The concentrate is diluted with glucose 5% solution before infusion.

References

  1. Papp, Z; Édes, I; Fruhwald, S; De Hert, SG; Salmenperä, M; Leppikangas, H; Mebazaa, A; Landoni, G; Grossini, E; Caimmi, P; Morelli, A; Guarracino, F; Schwinger, RH; Meyer, S; Algotsson, L; Wikström, BG; Jörgensen, K; Filippatos, G; Parissis, JT; González, MJ; Parkhomenko, A; Yilmaz, MB; Kivikko, M; Pollesello, P; Follath, F (23 August 2012). "Levosimendan: Molecular Mechanisms and Clinical Implications: Consensus of Experts on the Mechanisms of Action of Levosimendan". International Journal of Cardiology. 159 (2): 82–7. doi:10.1016/j.ijcard.2011.07.022. PMID 21784540.
  2. Nieminen, MS; Fruhwald, S; Heunks, LM; Suominen, PK; Gordon, AC; Kivikko, M; Pollesello, P (2013). "Levosimendan: Current Data, Clinical Use and Future Development". Heart, Lung and Vessels. 5 (4): 227–45. PMC 3868185Freely accessible. PMID 24364017.
  3. 1 2 Mebazaa, A; Nieminen, MS; Packer, M; Cohen-Solal, A; Kleber, FX; Pocock, SJ; Thakkar, R; Padley, RJ; Põder, P; Kivikko, M; SURVIVE, Investigators (2 May 2007). "Levosimendan vs Dobutamine for Patients with Acute Decompensated Heart Failure: the SURVIVE Randomized Trial". JAMA. 297 (17): 1883–91. doi:10.1001/jama.297.17.1883. PMID 17473298.
  4. Landoni, G; Biondi-Zoccai, G; Greco, M; Greco, T; Bignami, E; Morelli, A; Guarracino, F; Zangrillo, A (February 2012). "Effects of Levosimendan on Mortality and Hospitalization. A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Studies". Critical Care Medicine. 40 (2): 634–46. doi:10.1097/ccm.0b013e318232962a. PMID 21963578.
  5. Orion. "Simdax (levosimendan) Fact Sheet" (PDF). Orion. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
  6. Tenax Theraputics. "Levosimendan - Tenax Theraputics". Tenax Theraputics. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  7. Rossi S, editor. Australian Medicines Handbook 2006. Adelaide: Australian Medicines Handbook; 2006.
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