- VICTOR Phase III trial showed vericiguat didn't reduce primary endpoint risk in HFrEF patients.
- Secondary endpoints showed fewer cardiovascular deaths with vericiguat.
- VICTOR trial involved 6,105 patients with HFrEF.
- Vericiguat is co-developed by Bayer and MSD.
VICTOR Phase III Trial Results
The VICTOR Phase III clinical trial results for vericiguat in patients with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) were presented at the ESC Congress 2025. The trial showed that vericiguat, when added to guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT), did not reduce the risk of the primary composite endpoint of heart failure hospitalization or cardiovascular death compared to placebo plus GDMT.
Secondary Endpoints and Safety
Secondary endpoints indicated fewer events of cardiovascular death and all-cause mortality in the vericiguat group compared to placebo on top of GDMT. The overall safety profile of vericiguat in the VICTOR trial was consistent with previous clinical trials.
Patient Population and Analysis
The trial enrolled 6,105 patients with HFrEF, with 83% on three or more heart failure therapies and 47.5% having no prior heart failure hospitalization. A pre-specified pooled analysis of VICTORIA and VICTOR with 11,155 HFrEF patients showed a statistically significant risk reduction consistent across the primary composite of cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalization.
About Vericiguat
Vericiguat is an oral once-daily stimulator of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), targeting the NO-sGC-cGMP signaling pathway. It is indicated in the EU for treating symptomatic chronic heart failure in adult patients with reduced ejection fraction stabilized after a recent decompensation event requiring intravenous therapy.
Collaboration
Bayer and MSD have been collaborating since 2014 in the field of sGC modulators, co-developing the vericiguat program. MSD holds commercial rights in the U.S., while Bayer has exclusive rights elsewhere.
