Short-term hemodynamic, anti-ischemic, and antianginal effects of pirsidomine, a now sydnonimine

Abstract Pirsidomine is a new sydnonimine compound in clinical development. As a prodrug, it is transformed into a nitric oxide-releasing metabolite in vivo. In animal tests there were no signs of tolerance with repeated administration. The short-term effects of 10, 20, and 40 mg of the drug on pulmonary hemodynamics and ischemic parameters were examined at rest and during exercise in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. The study included 48 patients with documented coronary artery disease and exercise-induced ST-segment depression. Compared with the baseline test, there was a reduction of diastolic pulmonary artery pressure with pirsidomine at rest (placebo: −0.4 ± 0.5 mm Hg; 10 mg: −1.5 ± 2.4 mm Hg; 20 mg: −1.4 ± 1.1 mm Hg; 40 mg: −2.3 ±1.3 mm Hg [p