New drug class could have wide health impact

Tue, 13 May 2008 06:59:59 -0400

Vaptans are a new class of drug that target a wide variety of conditions by inhibiting vasopressin, which regulates the circulatory system. Among the new drugs in development are relcovaptan, which is being developed to treat painful periods as well as Raynaud's disease. Another group of vaptans are diuretics that remove water from a patient without affecting their balance of salt mineral. And vaptans in the pipeline target kidney failure, diabetic nephropathy depression, glaucoma and brain hemorrhage.

"This is a nice review of an emerging class of drugs," the Cleveland Clinic's Dr. Gary S. Francis tells HealthDay. "But it is a little early to know if they will prove to be highly useful."

- read the report from Medical News Today
- read the story from HealthDay