Effects of age and gender on the pharmacokinetics of the soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator riociguat

Background Pulmonary hypertension is a disabling disease associated with high mortality [1,2]. Riociguat (under review for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension) stimulates soluble guanylate cyclase, which plays an important role in the regulation of cardiovascular tone and remodelling [3-9]. We investigated the potential effects of age and gender on the pharmacokinetics of riociguat and its primary metabolite M1 (BAY 60-4552). Safety and tolerability of riociguat were also assessed.