Chemistry:Pimobendan
Pimobendan (INN, or pimobendane), sold under the brand name Vetmedin among others, is a veterinary medication. It is a calcium sensitizer and a selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 3 (PDE3) with positive inotropic and vasodilator effects.
Pimobendan is used in the management of heart failure in dogs, most commonly caused by myxomatous mitral valve disease (also previously known as endocardiosis), or dilated cardiomyopathy.[1] Research has shown that as a monotherapy, pimobendan increases survival time and improves quality of life in canine patients with congestive heart failure secondary to mitral valve disease when compared with benazepril, an ACE inhibitor.[2] Under the brand name Acardi, it is available for human use in Japan.[3] It is available as a generic medication.[4]
Medical uses
Pimobendan is indicated for the management of the signs of mild, moderate, or severe congestive heart failure in dogs due to clinical myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) or dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM);[5][6] and for use with concurrent therapy for congestive heart failure (e.g.,furosemide, etc.) as appropriate on a case-by-case basis.[5] It is also indicated for the delay of onset of congestive heart failure in dogs with Stage B2 preclinical myxomatous mitral valve disease (2019 ACVIM consensus guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of myxomatous mitral valve disease in dogs).[7][8][9][10]
Mechanism of action
Pimobendan is a positive inotrope, and its main function is to increase myocardial contractility. It sensitizes and increases the binding efficiency of cardiac troponin in the myofibril to the calcium ions that are already present in systole. In healthy hearts, it elevates oxygen and energy consumption to a level comparable to that achieved with dobutamine; however, in pathological hearts, this effect may not occur.[11][12] Pimobendan also causes peripheral vasodilation by inhibiting the function of phosphodiesterase 3 (PDE3). This results in decreased resistance to blood flow through systemic arterioles, which decreases afterload (decreases the failing heart's workload) and reduces the amount of mitral regurgitation.[13][14]
Pharmacokinetics
Pimobendan is absorbed rapidly when given via the oral route and has a bioavailability of 60–65%.[15] Food decreases the bioavailability of the aqueous solution although the effect on the tablet form is unknown.[16] It is metabolized into an active metabolite (desmethylpimobendan) by the liver. The parent compound, pimobendan, is a potent calcium sensitizer while desmethylpimobendan is a more potent phosphodiesterase III inhibitor.[17] The half-life of pimobendan in the blood is 0.4 hours, and the half-life of its metabolite is two hours. Elimination is by excretion in the bile and then feces. Pimobendan is 90–95% bound to plasma proteins in circulation. This may have implications in patients with low blood protein levels (hypoproteinemia/hypoalbuminemia) and in patients that are on concurrent therapies that are also highly protein bound.
Combinations
Pimobendan is often used in combination with three other drugs to palliate dogs with heart failure (pulmonary edema, pleural effusion, ascites). These are:
- Furosemide, a diuretic, to reduce edema and effusion.
- Spironolactone, an aldosterone antagonist. This has two actions, firstly, as a potassium-sparing diuretic, although its diuretic properties are small compared with those of furosemide. Secondly, it reduces aldosterone-mediated myocardial fibrosis, possibly slowing the progression of heart disease.
- An ACE inhibitor, often enalapril (brand name Enacard) or benazepril (Fortekor). These drugs inhibit the action of angiotensin-converting enzyme, producing a balanced vasodilation, along with other potentially favorable effects.
Synthesis

The reaction between p-anisoyl chloride [100-07-2] (1) and CID:20516917 (2) gives 4-[4-[(4-Methoxybenzoyl)amino]-3-nitrophenyl]-3-methyl-4-oxobutanoic acid, CID:20516902 (3). The reaction of this with hydrazine gives 5-methyl-6-[3-nitro-4-(4-methoxy-benzoylamino)-phenyl]-3-oxo-4,5-dihydro-2H-pyridazine [74149-73-8]. Catalytic hydrogenation reduces the nitro group giving [74149-74-9] (4). cyclization of the resulting ortho amino amide by means of a strong acid leads to the formation of the corresponding benzimidazole. There is thus obtained pimobendan (5).
References
- ↑ "Pimobendan in heart failure therapy—a silver bullet?". Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association 42 (2): 90–3. 2006. doi:10.5326/0420090. PMID 16527909.
- ↑ "Effect of Pimobendan or Benazepril Hydrochloride on Survival Times in Dogs with Congestive Heart Failure Caused by Naturally Occurring Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease: The QUEST Study". J. Vet. Intern. Med. 22 (5): 1124–35. July 2008. doi:10.1111/j.1939-1676.2008.0150.x. PMID 18638016.
- ↑ "Kusuri-no-Shiori Drug Information Sheet". RAD-AR Council, Japan. April 2005. http://www.rad-ar.or.jp/siori/english/kekka.cgi?n=54.
- ↑ "FDA Approves First Generic Pimobendan for Management of Congestive Heart Failure in Dogs". 25 April 2024. https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/cvm-updates/fda-approves-first-generic-pimobendan-management-congestive-heart-failure-dogs.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedVetmedin FDA label - ↑ "NADA 141-273 VETMEDIN Pimobendan Chewable Tablets Dogs". https://animaldrugsatfda.fda.gov/adafda/app/search/public/document/downloadFoi/832.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedVetmedin CA1 FDA label - ↑ "Application Number 141-556 Vetmedin®-CA1 (pimobendan) Chewable Tablets Dogs". https://animaldrugsatfda.fda.gov/adafda/app/search/public/document/downloadFoi/12512.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ↑ "FDA Conditionally Approves First Drug to Delay Onset of Congestive Heart Failure in Dogs". 16 June 2022. https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/cvm-updates/fda-conditionally-approves-first-drug-delay-onset-congestive-heart-failure-dogs.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ↑ "ACVIM consensus guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of myxomatous mitral valve disease in dogs". Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 33 (3): 1127–1140. May 2019. doi:10.1111/jvim.15488. PMID 30974015.
- ↑ "Mechanoenergetic effects of pimobendan in canine left ventricles. Comparison with dobutamine". Circulation 86 (4): 1291–301. October 1992. doi:10.1161/01.cir.86.4.1291. PMID 1394935.
- ↑ "Mechanoenergetic effect of pimobendan in failing dog hearts". Heart and Vessels Suppl 12: 103–5. 1997. PMID 9476556.
- ↑ "Cardiovascular profile of pimobendan, a benzimidazole-pyridazinone derivative with vasodilating and inotropic properties". European Journal of Pharmacology 126 (1–2): 21–30. July 1986. doi:10.1016/0014-2999(86)90733-8. PMID 2875884.
- ↑ "Effects of pimobendan for mitral valve regurgitation in dogs". The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science 69 (4): 373–7. April 2007. doi:10.1292/jvms.69.373. PMID 17485924.
- ↑ "NADA 141-273, Approved by FDA Vetmedin (pimobendan) Chewable Tablets Cardiac drug for oral use in dogs only". Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc.. 2007. http://www.vetmedin.com/Vetmedin%20Insert_6-07.pdf.
- ↑ "Pharmacokinetics of pimobendan after oral administration to dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease". Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 37 (6): 2003–2010. November 2023. doi:10.1111/jvim.16891. PMID 37776546.
- ↑ "Pharmacokinetics of oral pimobendan in healthy cats". Journal of Veterinary Cardiology 14 (4): 489–96. December 2012. doi:10.1016/j.jvc.2012.06.002. PMID 23116650.
- ↑ Austel V, Diederen W, Eberlein W, Haarmann W, Heider J, "5-Alkyl:pyridazinyl substd. benzimidazole derivs. - useful as cardiovascular agents, antivirals, interferon inducers and ulcer inhibitors", DE patent 2837161, published 6 March 1980
- ↑ Austel V, Heider J, Eberlein W, Diederen W, Haarmann W, "Pyridazinone-substituted benzimidazoles and salts", US patent 4361563, issued 30 November 1982
Further reading
- "Calcium sensitisers". BMJ 300 (6724): 551–2. March 1990. doi:10.1136/bmj.300.6724.551. PMID 2108746.
