The choice of a modern neuroprotective drug as a basic strategy in the treatment of chronic cerebrovascular diseases

Abstract

The topicality of the issues of effective treatment and prevention of cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) is not doubtful in view of their leadership in the top ranked causes of high mortality and disability in the general population almost all over the world, including Russia. The pathogenetic aspects of chronic CVD caused by hypoperfusion, which triggers a chain of successively developing metabolic disorders, represent a potential therapeutic target for the development of new dosage forms. The enormous clinical experience has been accumulated and evidence of therapeutic benefits in patients with various types of vascular and metabolic disorders accompanied by ischemia, including cerebrovascular disease, has been obtained over almost thirty years of active clinical use of ethylmethylhydroxypyridine succinate (6-methyl-2-ethylpyridin-3-ol butanedioate, EMHPS). It proved that EMHPS has such important effects as antioxidant, membrane-protective, antihypoxic, and anti-ischemic properties, as well as confirmed its hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, antiplatelet and antithrombotic actions, which makes it an important component of the complex therapy of CVD. Progress in the development of innovative drugs is the result, on the one hand, of the availability of highly active pharmacological substances and, on the other hand, of the creation or selection of new dosage forms. The use of matrix tablets as a modern dosage form allowed us to efficiently optimize the pharmacokinetics of EMHPS, which led to the creation of a drug with a high predictive efficacy and safety. Thus, the developed new prolonged dosage form of EMHPS enables a constant-rate daily release of the active substance for 20 hours and reduces the likelihood of not only side effects, but also skipped intake during the day. The new dosage form of EMHPS is available at 375 and 750 mg doses, which makes it possible to take just 1 tablet per day and get all the therapeutic benefits while staying compliant.