Verinurad

Verinurad is a pharmaceutical drug used in the treatment of gout. It is a selective uric acid reabsorption inhibitor that works by increasing the excretion of uric acid in the urine. This helps to lower the concentration of uric acid in the blood, thereby preventing the formation of gout crystals in the joints and kidneys.

Mechanism of Action

Verinurad works by inhibiting a protein in the kidneys called URAT1. URAT1 is responsible for the reabsorption of uric acid from the urine back into the blood. By blocking this protein, Verinurad increases the amount of uric acid that is excreted in the urine, thereby reducing the concentration of uric acid in the blood.

Clinical Use

Verinurad is used in combination with a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, such as allopurinol or febuxostat, to treat chronic gout in adults who have not achieved target serum uric acid levels with a xanthine oxidase inhibitor alone.

Side Effects

Common side effects of Verinurad include kidney stones, nausea, rash, and flu-like symptoms. In rare cases, it can cause serious kidney problems or a severe skin reaction.

Pharmacokinetics

Verinurad is taken orally and is rapidly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. It is primarily excreted in the urine.

Development and Approval

Verinurad was developed by AstraZeneca, a British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical company. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States in 2017.