New Combo Drug May Cut Blood Pressure

March 16, 2010 - Marrying a new blood-pressure-lowering drug to an old one
results in a new drug that works better than either drug alone, a
manufacturer-sponsored clinical trial suggests.
Novartis's AHU377 is a new kind of blood pressure drug called a
vasopeptidase inhibitor. A previous drug in this class, Bristol-Myers Squibb's
omipatrilat, showed great promise but failed because of a dangerous side
effect.
AHU377 does not appear to have this side effect. But it's not a very
powerful drug all by itself. However, a new study suggests that it
significantly boosts the effects of Novartis's Diovan, a different kind of
blood pressure drug called an angiotensin II receptor blocker.
The combination of the two types of drug creates a new molecule: an ARNI or
"dual-acting angiotensin II-receptor and neprilysin inhibitor," suggest Luis
Miguel Ruilope, MD, of Hospital 12 October in Madrid, Spain, and
colleagues.
Ruilope and colleagues tested the new drug, code-named LCZ696, in 1,328
adults ages 18 to 75 in 18 nations. Study participants had only
mild-to-moderate high blood pressure: on average, 156/100 (normal blood
pressure is 120/80 or less).
Across all dosages tested, LCZ696 boosted the blood-pressure lowering effect
of Diovan.
At the dosage chosen for further clinical trials, 200 milligrams, LCZ696
dropped systolic blood pressure (the top number) by 11 points and diastolic
blood pressure (the bottom number) by 6.14 points. An equivalent dose of Diovan
alone decreased systolic blood pressure by 5.69 points and diastolic blood
pressure by 3.17 points.
By comparison:

Reducing your weight cuts systolic blood pressure by 5 to 20 points per 22
pounds lost.
Regular physical activity cuts systolic blood pressure by 4 to 9
points.
The low-fat, high-vegetable/fruit DASH diet cuts systolic blood pressure by
8 to 14 points.
Cutting back drinking to no more than two drinks a day for men and one
drink a day for women cuts systolic blood pressure by 2 to 4 points.

Novartis participated in the design, data collection, data interpretation,
and writing of the Ruilope study.
The study findings appear in the March 16 online edition of The
Lancet.
 





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