NCIt definition : An orally bioavailable stimulator of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), with vasodilating
activity. Upon oral administration, riociguat directly stimulates the catalytic activity
of sGC. In addition, riociguat stabilizes the binding of nitric oxide (NO) to sGC.
Altogether this stimulates the NO-sGC-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) pathway
and increases the formation of the intracellular second messenger cGMP, which results
in smooth muscle relaxation and vasodilation. sGC, a heme-containing cytoplasmic signaling
enzyme, catalyzes the formation of cGMP from guanosine triphosphate (GTP) in response
to NO binding to heme. Riociguat stimulates sGC independently of and synergistically
with NO.;