Inadequacies in current therapies for atrial fibrillation have made new drug development
crucial. Conventional antiarrhythmic drugs increase the risk of ventricular proarrhythmia. In
drug development, the focus has been on favourable multichannel-blocking profiles, atrial-
specific ion-channels, and novel non-channel targets (upstream therapy). Molecular
modification of the highly effective multichannel blocker, amiodarone, to improve safety and
tolerability has produced promising analogues such as dronedarone, although this drug …

Pharmacotherapy of atrial fibrillation (AF) is demanding, because currently available
antiarrhythmic drugs have low efficacy and many side effects. In drug development, the
focus has been on amiodarone-like multichannel blockers, atrial-specific ion channel
blockers, and novel non-channel agents targeting atrial remodelling. Dronedarone, an
amiodarone analogue without iodine, was recently approved for treatment of AF. It is less
effective than amiodarone, but serious adverse events are rare. Vernakalant, an atrial …