TheraRadar
Data updated: May 26, 2026

VERQUVO (vericiguat)

Guanylate Cyclase Stimulators Trial Activity: Mature 8 active trials
First-in-Class Priority Review Fast Track
Cardiovascular Approved 2021-01-19

Verquvo helps patients with symptomatic chronic heart failure who have an ejection fraction of less than 45%. It is used for adults who have recently experienced a heart failure hospitalization or required outpatient IV diuretics. This medication helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and future hospitalizations related to heart failure.

Source: FDA Label • Merck • Soluble Guanylate Cyclase Stimulator

How VERQUVO Works

Vericiguat is a direct stimulator of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), an enzyme in the nitric oxide (NO) signaling pathway. It works by directly stimulating sGC independently of NO and by acting synergistically with endogenous NO to increase intracellular cGMP levels. This augmentation of cGMP promotes smooth muscle relaxation and vasodilation, while also playing a role in regulating cardiac contractility and remodeling, addressing the impaired NO-sGC-cGMP signaling pathway characteristic of heart failure.

Development Insights

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC conducting 2 trials (17%)
18 indications explored (Broad Platform)
heart failure (6 trials)
heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (hfref) (2 trials)
chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (2 trials)
2
Indications
--
Phase 3 Trials
1
Priority Reviews
5
Years on Market

Details

Status
Prescription
First Approved
2021-01-19
Patent Cliff
2032

Pro Metrics

Patent cliff and revenue data

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Routes
ORAL
Dosage Forms
TABLET

Companies

Active Ingredient: VERICIGUAT

VERQUVO Approval History

2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Original
New Indication
New Form
Label Update
12 FDA actions from 2021 to 2026 · 1 indication expansions
Jan 2026 SUPPL
Efficacy
May 2023 SUPPL
Label · Labeling
Nov 2022 SUPPL
Label · Labeling

What VERQUVO Treats

1 indications

VERQUVO is approved for 1 conditions since its original approval in 2021. These indications span multiple therapeutic areas including oncology, immunology, and more.

  • Heart Failure
Source: FDA Label

VERQUVO Boxed Warning

EMBRYO-FETAL TOXICITY Females of reproductive potential: Exclude pregnancy before the start of treatment. To prevent pregnancy, females of reproductive potential must use effective forms of contraception during treatment and for one month after stopping treatment. Do not administer VERQUVO to a pregnant female because it may cause fetal harm [see Dosage and Administration (2.2) , Warnings and Precautions (5.1) , and Use in Specific Populations (8.3) ] . WARNING: EMBRYO-FETAL TOXICITY See full pr...

VERQUVO Competitive Set

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Filters applied: drops same-active-ingredient (505(b)(2) reformulations), route-mismatch (topical vs systemic), and cross-therapeutic-area matches in same-indication rings.

Drugs Similar to VERQUVO

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GE HEALTHCARE
Shared indications:
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Shared indications:
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Clinical Trial Registry

12 trials
Trial Sponsor ID Phase Status Title
NCT07405944 VERI-PATH 0120-5/2025-2711-3 Ph 4 recruiting Vericiguat and Reverse Remodeling Indices in Heart Failure
NCT05711719 results posted IRB00310207 Ph 2 completed Vericiguat in Patients With Metabolic Syndrome and Coronary Vascular Dysfunction
NCT05093933 VICTOR results posted 1242-035 MK-1242-035, 2022-500881-80-00 Ph 3 completed A Study of Vericiguat (MK-1242) in Participants With Chronic Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF) (MK-1242-035)
NCT05704478 22-2321 Ph 4 active not recruiting Impact of Vericiguat on Hemodynamics of Heart Failure
NCT05420012 results posted IRB_00152530 Ph 4 completed The Effect of Vericiguat on Peripheral Vascular Function, Patient Health Status and Inflammation
NCT05806138 23-050 Ph 2 active not recruiting A Study of Vericiguat in People With Breast Cancer and Cancer Therapy-Related Cardiac Dysfunction
NCT06601465 CONVERGE-HF CONVERGE-HF-2023-6 Ph 2 recruiting COgnitioN With VERiciGuat Evaluation in Heart Failure
NCT05812755 SOLSTICE 222089 R01HL164909 Ph 4 recruiting SGC Stimulation, Perioperative Vascular Reactivity, and Organ Injury in Cardiac Surgery
NCT06415227 ViVA EU CT 2022-502998-42-00 Ph 2 not yet recruiting The Impact of Vericiguat on Microvascular Function in Patients with Documented Vasospastic Angina Pectoris
NCT06812546 VIC-MI VIC-MI 82300372; 82270406, CSTB2024NSCQ-LZX0144 Ph 4 not yet recruiting Efficacy and Safety of Early Initiation of Vericiguat in Heart Failure After Acute Myocardial Infarction
NCT06671990 ARETHA 2024-514111-10-00 Ph 4 not yet recruiting The CardioMEMS Vericiguat Heart Failure Trial
NCT02861534 VICTORIA results posted 1242-001 2016-000671-25, MK-1242-001 Ph 3 completed A Study of Vericiguat in Participants With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF) (MK-1242-001)
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Active Pipeline

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Ongoing clinical trials by development phase

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Key Completed Trials

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Completed studies with published results, ranked by significance

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Trial Timeline

Full development history with FDA approval milestones

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Understanding FDA Approval Types
Count Type What it means
- ORIG Original approval - drug first enters market
- SUPPL - Efficacy New indication (new disease/condition approved)
- SUPPL - Labeling Label text changes (warnings, dosing updates)
- SUPPL - Manufacturing Production changes (new facility)
- SUPPL - Chemistry Formulation changes (new dosage strength)

Green lines in the timeline show ORIG and Efficacy approvals - the clinically meaningful milestones.

VERQUVO FDA Label Details

Indications & Usage

FDA Label (PDF)

VERQUVO is indicated for the treatment of Heart Failure.

⚠️ BOXED WARNING

WARNING: EMBRYO-FETAL TOXICITY Females of reproductive potential: Exclude pregnancy before the start of treatment. To prevent pregnancy, females of reproductive potential must use effective forms of contraception during treatment and for one month after stopping treatment. Do not administer VERQUVO ...

View full patent landscape →
6 OB patents · 2 families · 241 international docs across 51 countries

VERQUVO Patents & Exclusivity

Latest Patent: Nov 2032
Exclusivity: Jan 2029

Patents (6 active)

US9604948 Expires Nov 26, 2032
US9993476 Expires May 19, 2031
US8921377 Expires May 19, 2031
US11439642 Expires May 19, 2031
US10736896 Expires May 19, 2031
US8420656 Expires May 19, 2031

Exclusivity

D-198 Until Jan 2029
NCE Until Jan 2026
D-198 Until Jan 2029
NCE Until Jan 2026
D-198 Until Jan 2029
NCE Until Jan 2026
D-198 Until Jan 2029
NCE Until Jan 2026
D-198 Until Jan 2029
NCE Until Jan 2026
D-198 Until Jan 2029
NCE Until Jan 2026
D-198 Until Jan 2029
NCE Until Jan 2026
D-198 Until Jan 2029
NCE Until Jan 2026
D-198 Until Jan 2029
NCE Until Jan 2026
Source: FDA Orange Book

Pro Intelligence Preview

Deep insights for VERQUVO

Revenue Insights

  • Quarterly revenue tracking
  • Historical trend analysis

Patent Timeline

  • Cliff: 2032
  • 54 active patents

Trial Analysis

  • 12 total trials
  • Stage: Mature

Competitive Landscape

  • 20 similar drugs
  • Same target/indication analysis
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Full approval history • All patents • Revenue trends • Competitor analysis

Data Sources

Data sourced from official FDA and NIH databases. Click links to verify on original sources.

How We Calculate These Metrics

Trial Activity Stage

Measures the current development activity pattern based on trial phases, status, and trends. Important: This measures R&D activity, not commercial lifecycle.

Trial statuses: "Active" means recruiting or ongoing. "Completed" means reached planned endpoint. "Terminated" means stopped early—often due to safety, efficacy, or business reasons.

  • Growth: High proportion of early-phase trials (Phase 1/2), active development
  • Expansion: Significant Phase 3 activity, approaching or pursuing approvals
  • Mature: Substantial Phase 4 post-marketing studies
  • Stable: Mixed phase distribution, steady development
  • Declining: Low active trial ratio, reduced R&D investment