Praliciguat and Soluble Guanylate Cyclase Stimulators for Peripheral Artery Disease

Abstract

Approximately 8 million people in the United States and 230 million people worldwide have lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD), characterized by impaired walking ability and increased rates of mobility loss, compared with people without PAD. 1 Despite the high prevalence of PAD and its association with walking disability, few therapies have been identified that improve walking impairment in people with PAD. Only one medication, cilostazol, is both FDA approved and recommended by clinical practice guidelines to treat walking impairment in PAD. 1 Effects of cilostazol on walking performance are modest. 1 While lower extremity revascularization can significantly improve walking impairment, benefits from revascularization are often not durable, and many patients with PAD are not candidates for revascularization. New and effective therapies for walking impairment in PAD are needed.