Study to Evaluate the QT / QTc Interval Prolongation Potential of Vericiguat

Study to Clinically Evaluate the QT/QTc Interval Prolongation Potential of Vericiguat in Patients With Stable Coronary Artery Disease in a 2-arm, Placebo-controlled, Randomized, Double-blind, Double-dummy Design Including a Vericiguat Multiple-dose Part With Fixed up Titration Periods and Moxifloxacin as Positive Control (for Assay Sensitivity Testing, Nested Into the Placebo Treatment)

The primary objective of this study was to investigate whether there is a clinically meaningful effect on QTc change from baseline relative to placebo after administration of 10 mg at steady state in patients with stable CAD (coronary artery disease).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with stable CAD (coronary artery disease) defined by:

  • clinically stable for at least 3 months
  • coronary artery stenosis in any of the 3 main coronary vessels
  • or history of myocardial infarction

• Sinus rhythm at screening

• Interpretable echocardiographic images

• Age: 30 to 80 years

• Body mass index (BMI): above/equal 18.0 and below/equal 36.0 kg/m²

Exclusion Criteria:

• Ejection fraction (EF) below 30% at screening
• Progressive angina with symptoms of worsening of angina within the <3 month
• History of recent myocardial infarction or unstable Angina
• Documented current relevant coronary stenosis ≥90% in any of the main 3 coronary vessels without bypass graft
• Symptomatic carotid stenosis, or transient ischemic attack or stroke within 3 months or patients with stroke at more than 3 months
• Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
• Clinically significant and persisting cardiac ischemia
• Atrial fibrillation, pacemaker, defibrillator, second and third degree atrial-ventricular (AV) block
• Known clinically relevant ventricular arrhythmias
• Clinically relevant heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction
• Significant valvular heart disease with moderate or severe aortic stenosis or any other significant stenosis; any other moderate or severe valvular failures
• Valve replacement
• Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM)
• Previous or imminent cardiac transplantation
• Known long QT syndrome or prolongation of the QT interval with ongoing proarrhythmic conditions
• Co-medication with drugs known to have QT prolonging effect
• Intolerance of fluoroquinolones, including moxifloxacin
• History of serious adverse effects e.g. tendinitis and tendon rupture, arthralgia and effects on the peripheral and central nervous system while taking fluoroquinolones including moxifloxacin
• History of tendon diseases or tendon injury caused by quinolones
• Treatment with fluoroquinolones, including moxifloxacin during the last 2 weeks
• Treatment with organic nitrates during the last 3 months
• Treatment with riociguat during the last 3 months
• Treatment with phosphodiesterase (PDE)-5 inhibitors during the last 14 days
• Systolic blood pressure below 110 or above 160 mmHg at screening visit
• Diastolic blood pressure below 50 or above 100 mmHg at screening visit
• Heart rate below 50 or above 100 beats/min (taken from ECG measurement) at first screening visit
• Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) below 30 mL/min/1.73m*2