Update on etripamil nasal spray for the at-home treatment of acute paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia

Abstract

The current treatment of sustained paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) often requires attendance at a medical facility. This burden is driven by the lack of an effective self-administered treatment for PSVT. Etripamil (Milestone Pharmaceuticals, Saint-Laurent, QC, Canada) is a novel intra-nasal preparation of a rapidly effective but short-acting calcium-channel blocker, which shows promise in offering out-of-hospital treatment for patients with PSVT. Studies, to date, have demonstrated good tolerability and potential efficacy, with a safety profile that is acceptable for unsupervised self-administration. This article reviews the current epidemiology and international guidelines for the treatment of acute PSVT, the pharmacology and clinical trial evidence behind the novel agent etripamil, and considers its potential role in the management of patients with PSVT.