Relaxin agonists under preclinical and early clinical investigation for the treatment of heart failure

Published Date: 06th December 2024

Publication Authors: Ajay. H

Introduction
Acute failure is a critical condition, encompassed by the sudden or progressive onset of symptoms or signs of congestion. The treatment strategies available are mainly supportive and do not improve mortality or long-term outcomes. Therefore, there is a need for alternative novel treatment strategies. In this narrative review, we explore the role of relaxin agonist as a potential therapeutic strategy in acute heart failure.

Areas covered
We aim to provide an overview of the evidence of preclinical and clinical studies on relaxin as a treatment strategy for acute heart failure. Papers collected in this review are from original research and systematic reviews which have been filtered following Medline and Cochrane Library searches.

Expert opinion
Relaxin has shown great potential in both preclinical and clinical studies due to its antifibrotic, anti-inflammatory, and vasodilatory effect on the heart. However, there has been mixed evidence from clinical trials involving relaxin which could be due to patient groups, investigation sites, trial design and chance. Further studies should focus on developing biomarkers to identify specific population groups who are most likely to benefit from relaxin.
 

Ajay, A; Ajay, H et al. (2024). Relaxin agonists under preclinical and early clinical investigation for the treatment of heart failure. Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs. Pub online 6 Dec. [Online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/13543784.2024.2438663 [Accessed 11 December 2024]

 

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