Ularitide: from renal natriuretic peptide to clinical trials.

Ularitide is a member of the natriuretic peptide family which is presumably synthesized in the kidney. In physiological experiments a correlation between Ularitide excretion and natriuresis has been found. Ularitide infusions and bolus injections in animals initiated profound diuresis and natriuresis as the most prominent effects. On the basis of findings in in-vitro and in-vivo experiments, Ularitide was used in clinical trials, and the results indicate that it could be a promising new drug to prevent and treat acute renal failure in patients after cardiac surgery and organ transplantation.