Novartis’ new hypertension drug Lotrel proved to be so effective that a clinical trial was stopped early. The medication which combines two blood pressure medications is targeted to prevent heart attacks and strokes.
The trial compared two high blood pressure pills to see if a combination of pills could help patients get better control of their blood pressure. Both pills worked but those taking the Lotrel, which is a pill that combines an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE inhibitor) and a calcium channel blocker, had 20% fewer heart attacks and strokes than those who took an ACE inhibitor and diuretic combination.
For the 73 million patients in America with high blood pressure, we offer a new option to reduce heart attacks, strokes and heart-related death by 20 percent," said Dr. Kenneth Jamerson of the University of Michigan, who presented his findings at the American College of Cardiology meeting in Chicago.
In the study of 10,700 volunteers took either Lotrel, which contains benazepril with amlodipine besylate (the active ingredient in Norvasc) or benazepril with hydroclorothiazidie, a common diuretic used to treat hypertension.
[Source: YahooNews]
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