[Tolvaptan, a vasopressin V2 receptor antagonist, is the world's first approved drug for treatment of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD)].

Abstract

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common genetic kidney disease. Fluid-filled cysts develop and enlarge in both kidneys, eventually leading to kidney failure. Tolvaptan is a selective vasopressin V2 receptor antagonist and the first and only drug approved for treatment of ADPKD. It blocks binding of arginine vasopressin (AVP) to V2 receptors in the collecting duct of kidney, thereby inducing water diuresis (aquaresis) without losing electrolytes. Therefore, tolvaptan was originally developed and approved as the first oral aquaretic agent for treatment of hyponatremia and fluid volume overload in heart failure and cirrhosis. During the development of tolvaptan as aquaretics, efficacy of V2 antagonist in polycystic kidney animal model was reported and then the development of tolvaptan for ADPKD was also initiated. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) plays an important role in cyst growth by promoting cell proliferation and fluid secretion. Tolvaptan showed suppression of cyst growth through inhibiting AVP-induced cAMP production and delayed the onset of end-stage renal disease in an animal model. In the phase 3 clinical trial in ADPKD patients (TEMPO 3:4 trial), 3-year treatment with tolvaptan slowed the disease progression including increase of kidney volume and decline in renal function. Efficacy of tolvaptan in patients with late-stage ADPKD was confirmed in another 1-year phase 3 REPRISE trial. Tolvaptan is approved for treatment of ADPKD in more than 40 countries and we expect it can contribute to more ADPKD patients worldwide. We also expect that drugs with new mechanisms will be available in the near future.

• Authors: Yoshihisa Yamada, Hiroyuki Fujiki, Hiroshi Mizuguchi, Yukinobu Takeshita, Katsuji Hattori, Koji Ohmoto, Miki Aihara, Keisuke Nagano, Yoshimasa Isakari, Miho Yamamoto, Yoshitaka Yamamura
• Journal: Nihon yakurigaku zasshi. Folia pharmacologica Japonica (Nihon Yakurigaku Zasshi) Vol. 157 Issue 4 Pg. 254-260 ( 2022) ISSN: 0015-5691 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 35781456 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antidiuretic Hormone Receptor Antagonists
• Vasopressins
• Tolvaptan
• Cyclic AMP

Topics

• Animals
• Antidiuretic Hormone Receptor Antagonists (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Cyclic AMP (therapeutic use)
• Cysts (drug therapy)
• Polycystic Kidney, Autosomal Dominant (drug therapy)
• Tolvaptan (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Vasopressins (therapeutic use)