Novartis' Diovan Found To 'Maintain' Blood Pressure
Dow Jones Newswires
May 19, 2000
NEW YORK -- Novartis AG (Z.NOV) said a study found that hypertensive patients who switched to the angiotensin II receptor blocker Diovan or Diovan HCT had their diastolic blood pressure control "adequately maintained."
In a press release Friday, Novartis said the treatment was effective in patients who became intolerant to "commonly prescribed" antihypertensive drugs.
Symptomatology, such as cough or edema, declined by as much as 89% in some patients who switched to Diovan, the study found.
Based on results of this pilot study, a larger, similarly designed study involving more than 8,000 patients is currently underway to investigate the findings.
Novartis said the pilot study had 307 patients recruited from three states. The study measured symptomology and "quality of life" in patients as baseline and follow up, which was about seven weeks after they were switched to Diovan or Diovan HCT.
Among the patients studied, the most common symptoms causing a change in antihypertensive therapy were cough, fatigue, edema and headache.
Diastolic and systolic blood pressure control was maintained in the 275 study patients switched to Diovan and in the 32 patients switched to Diovan HCT.
Novartis' pharmaceutical unit makes prescription drugs to treat central nervous system disorders, organ transplantation, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and other disorders.
-Sam Favate; Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-5400
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For those that are sensitive to ACE blockers, this is good news. Chiron also won their lawsuit.
Jack |
