Finerenone Plus SGLT2 Inhibitors in Heart Failure

Heart failure is a chronic clinical syndrome associated with significant morbidity, mortality and healthcare burden worldwide, despite advances in pharmacological therapy. Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have become an important component of standard treatment for patients with heart failure due to their demonstrated cardiovascular benefits. However, a substantial residual cardiovascular risk persists, indicating the need for additional therapeutic strategies.

Finerenone is a nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist with a distinct mechanism of action that targets mineralocorticoid receptor activation in cardiac and renal tissues. Previous clinical studies have demonstrated that finerenone reduces inflammation and fibrosis and provides cardiovascular benefits in patients with chronic cardiovascular and renal diseases. These findings support the potential for finerenone to offer complementary cardioprotective effects when combined with established heart failure therapies.

This prospective controlled pilot study is designed to evaluate the clinical effects and safety of adding finerenone to standard therapy with an SGLT2 inhibitor in patients with heart failure, compared with treatment using an SGLT2 inhibitor alone. Patients receiving stable SGLT2 inhibitor therapy will be managed according to the assigned treatment strategy and followed throughout the study period to evaluate overall clinical outcomes and safety parameters.

The findings of this pilot study are expected to provide preliminary evidence regarding the potential benefits and tolerability of combining finerenone with SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with heart failure and to inform the design of future larger-scale clinical studies.

Inclusion criteria

• Male and female patients aged 18 - 65 years.
• Newly diagnosed with HFrEF or HFpEF.
• Clinically stable and eligible to start SGLT2 inhibitors ± Finerenone therapy.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with stroke.
• eGFR <25 mL/min.
• HF secondary to congenital heart disease or pulmonary hypertension
• Use intravenous inotropes.
• Patients needing cardiac transplantation.
• Known allergy to study medications.