Patent focus on agents affecting cardiovascular and renal functions November 1999-March 2000

Patent applications relevant to therapy of cardiovascular diseases are revi ewed for the period of November 1999 to March 2000. Most of the patents dis cussed deal with agents affecting blood clotting, membrane ionic currents, hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia. The development and evaluation of s everal new therapeutic agents for treatment of blood coagulation disorders are discussed, including glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa antagonists, activators of protease-activated receptors, P2T receptor antagonists, adenosine recep tor agonists and serine protease inhibitors. Interesting new blockers of th e sodium-proton exchange, the N-type calcium channels and the ultrarapid de layed rectifier potassium current (I-Kur) are introduced. Antihypertensive agents are presented including angiotensin II receptor antagonists, vasopre ssin antagonists and phosphodiesterase inhibitors. Compounds effective agai nst hypercholesterolaemia, especially inhibitors of cholesterol ester trans fer protein (CETP) and acyl coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) a re also addressed. Agents acting via other mechanisms, like the nitric oxid e-cGMP (NO-cGMP) pathway, that are involved in cardiovascular effects are d iscussed.