Warner Lambert's Accupril Aids Blood Vessel Growth, Study Says
Bloomberg News
June 14, 1999, 5:56 p.m. ET
Warner Lambert's Accupril Aids Blood Vessel Growth, Study Says
Washington, June 14 (Bloomberg) -- Warner-Lambert Co.'s
Accupril heart drug promotes the growth of blood vessels in
rabbits, which may mean the blood-pressure-lowering drug could
also treat other forms of heart disease, a new study says.
According to researchers at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center
in Boston, Accupril, which is chemically known as quinaprilat,
prompts the growth of additional blood vessels in rabbits -- a
process known as angiogenesis. That can improve circulation,
helping to alleviate pressure on arteries clogged by
atherosclerosis.
''The study demonstrates an unexpected function of a class
of drugs that is commercially available and already has been
shown to be safe to use,'' said Jeffrey Isner, the senior author
of the study. ''Quinaprilat deserves to be investigated for its
potential use for promoting blood vessel growth.''
In the 27-rabbit study, eight were given Accupril, seven
were given Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.'s Capoten, six were given
VEGF, a naturally occurring chemical that produces blood vessel
growth and six were given no treatment. Accupril and Capoten are
both member of a class of drugs known as ACE inhibitors.
After 40 days, rabbits given Accupril and VEGF had
significantly greater blood vessel growth than the animals on
Capoten or no treatment. Rabbits treated with Accupril had an
average capillary density of 214 per square millimeter, compared
to 228.8 for VEGF, 147.2 for Capoten and 140.5 for the non-
treated control group.
The study, to appear tomorrow in the American Heart
Association journal Circulation, said the mechanism of the
angiogenesis effect of the drug was still unclear, though the
study suggest that nitric oxide may play a role.
The study didn't assess whether the use of Accupril also
stimulated tumor growth, though Isner said his study showed no
evidence of tumor growth prompted by blood vessel growth.
Shares in Morris Plains, New Jersey-based Warner-Lambert
fell 1 1/2 to 62 1/4.
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