10 Feb 2009 07:00 AM
Hypertension - AstraZeneca Secures Approval For Two New Dosage Strengths Of Atacand Plus
AstraZeneca announced it had received approval for two new dose strengths of Atacand Plus, aimed at hypertensive patients who are not optimally controlled by monotherapy alone. The decentralised procedure - including eleven EU member states and Iceland, and with Sweden as reference member state - ended positively, and national approvals will follow.
The approval is for new dose strengths of the fixed dose combination Atacand Plus, an angiotensin receptor blocker (candesartan cilexetil) 32mg combined with a diuretic (hydrochlorothiazide - HCT), in doses of either 12.5mg or 25mg. The new dose strengths provide doctors with two effective and well tolerated therapeutic options for hypertensive patients who have had difficulties in reaching blood pressure targets with monotherapy alone. Research shows that in more than two-thirds of hypertensive individuals, blood pressure is not controlled on one drug and will require two or more antihypertensive agents selected from different drug classes. (1) In Europe, Atacand Plus has until now only been available in doses up to 16 mg of candesartan cilexetil in combination with HCT.
The clinical studies supporting this approval show that the new doses of Atacand Plus are effective in providing improved blood pressure reduction and blood pressure control with maintained tolerability in hypertensive patients whose blood pressure is not optimally controlled with candesartan cilexetil or HCT monotherapy. (2,5,6) Current guidelines indicate that treatment with a once daily fixed dose combination also improves patient compliance. (3)
"For clinicians with patients who have had difficulty reaching blood pressure targets with monotherapy, these two new fixed dose combinations now give them a further option to help their patients reach their goal" commented Professor Bönner, Medical Director of MEDIAN clinics, Bad Krozingen, Germany. "Treatment with Atacand Plus has shown effective reduction in blood pressure levels as compared to monotherapy, with a maintained tolerability."
Approximately one billion people worldwide are affected by hypertension, with 7.6 million premature deaths (about 13.5 per cent of the global total) and about 54 per cent of stroke and 47 per cent of ischaemic heart disease attributable to high blood pressure. Hypertension is also a major risk factor for chronic heart failure. (4) For high risk patients tighter blood pressure control is important, as even moderately raised blood pressure can pose significant health risks…
The approval is for new dose strengths of the fixed dose combination Atacand Plus, an angiotensin receptor blocker (candesartan cilexetil) 32mg combined with a diuretic (hydrochlorothiazide - HCT), in doses of either 12.5mg or 25mg. The new dose strengths provide doctors with two effective and well tolerated therapeutic options for hypertensive patients who have had difficulties in reaching blood pressure targets with monotherapy alone. Research shows that in more than two-thirds of hypertensive individuals, blood pressure is not controlled on one drug and will require two or more antihypertensive agents selected from different drug classes. (1) In Europe, Atacand Plus has until now only been available in doses up to 16 mg of candesartan cilexetil in combination with HCT.
The clinical studies supporting this approval show that the new doses of Atacand Plus are effective in providing improved blood pressure reduction and blood pressure control with maintained tolerability in hypertensive patients whose blood pressure is not optimally controlled with candesartan cilexetil or HCT monotherapy. (2,5,6) Current guidelines indicate that treatment with a once daily fixed dose combination also improves patient compliance. (3)
"For clinicians with patients who have had difficulty reaching blood pressure targets with monotherapy, these two new fixed dose combinations now give them a further option to help their patients reach their goal" commented Professor Bönner, Medical Director of MEDIAN clinics, Bad Krozingen, Germany. "Treatment with Atacand Plus has shown effective reduction in blood pressure levels as compared to monotherapy, with a maintained tolerability."
Approximately one billion people worldwide are affected by hypertension, with 7.6 million premature deaths (about 13.5 per cent of the global total) and about 54 per cent of stroke and 47 per cent of ischaemic heart disease attributable to high blood pressure. Hypertension is also a major risk factor for chronic heart failure. (4) For high risk patients tighter blood pressure control is important, as even moderately raised blood pressure can pose significant health risks…
