Premium
Recent developments in nitric oxide donor drugs
Author(s) -
Miller M R,
Megson I L
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
british journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.432
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1476-5381
pISSN - 0007-1188
DOI - 10.1038/sj.bjp.0707224
Subject(s) - nitric oxide , sodium nitroprusside , medicine , pharmacology , intensive care medicine , neuroscience , psychology
During the 1980s, the free radical, nitric oxide (NO), was discovered to be a crucial signalling molecule, with wide‐ranging functions in the cardiovascular, nervous and immune systems. Aside from providing a credible explanation for the actions of organic nitrates and sodium nitroprusside that have long been used in the treatment of angina and hypertensive crises respectively, the discovery generated great hopes for new NO‐based treatments for a wide variety of ailments. Decades later, however, we are still awaiting novel licensed agents in this arena, despite an enormous research effort to this end. This review explores some of the most promising recent advances in NO donor drug development and addresses the challenges associated with NO as a therapeutic agent. British Journal of Pharmacology (2007) 151 , 305–321; doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0707224