Novel drugs targeting hypertension: renin inhibitors.
The first renin inhibitor, aliskiren, will soon enter the clinical arena. This review summarizes the potential differences between renin inhibitors and the currently existing blockers of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) [ie, the ACE inhibitors and the angiotensin II type 1 (AT(1)) receptor antagonists], taking also into consideration the recently discovered (pro)renin receptor. This receptor not only activates the inactive precursor of renin, prorenin, but it also exerts direct renin/prorenin-induced effects, independently of angiotensin. The review ends with a brief overview of the available (pre)clinical aliskiren data and a description of its safety profile.
Danser
A H Jan
AH
Department of Pharmacology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. a.danser@erasmusmc.nl
D000577:Amides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005650:Fumarates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000187:drug effects; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000187:drug effects*; D000093342:Prorenin Receptor; D000092502:Renin Inhibitors
D000577:Amides; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D005650:Fumarates; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D000093342:Prorenin Receptor; D000092502:Renin Inhibitors; C446481:aliskiren