Vasopeptidase Inhibitors

VASOPEPTIDASE INHIBITORS

Vasopeptidase inhibitors constitute a new class of cardiovascular drugs that inhibit two metalloprotease enzymes, NEP 24.11 and ACE. They thus simultaneously increase the levels of natriuretic peptides and decrease the formation of ANG II. As a result, they enhance vasodilation, reduce vasoconstriction, and increase sodium excretion, in turn reducing peripheral vascular resistance and blood pressure.Recently developed vasopeptidase inhibitors include omapa-trilat, sampatrilat, and fasidotrilat. Omapatrilat, which hasreceived the most attention, lowers blood pressure in animal mod-els of hypertension as well as in hypertensive patients, and improves cardiac function in patients with heart failure. Unfortunately, omapatrilat causes a significant incidence of angioedema in addition to cough and dizziness and has not been approved for clinical use.