Report: Combo hypertension drugs could provide lower doses, be safer
A fixed-dose combination of two hypertension drugs, like telmisartan (Micardis, Boehringer Ingelheim) and amlodipine (Norvasc, Pfizer) that have a lower dosage than valsartan (Novartis, Diovan/Tareg), would have an estimated gain in patient shares, according to a survey of U.S. and European cardiologists conducted by marketing research firm Decision Resources.
According to the Waltham, Mass.-based company, a fixed dose of the two drugs, telmisartan, an angiotensin II receptor antagonist, and amplodipine, a calcium-channel blocker, create an effective, safe treatment for hypertension, compared to other combinations.
While U.S. cardiologists suggested that a drug like this could lead to a 30 percent increase in patient shares, European cardiologists surveyed said a combination such as this would earn a patient share of 25 percent.
Currently, patient shares for the combination of drugs Diovan and Tareg reach only 6 percent.
In addition, the fixed dosage with drugs telmisartan and amplodipine could earn clinical gold standard status for the treatment of hypertension in 2013 and through 2018 following its approval for the diseases, accordign to Decision Resources.
“In the crowded hypertension market, 25 to 30 percent patient shares are unlikely reached without any evidence of long-term clinical benefit,” said Nikhil Mehta, therapeutic area director of the firm. “However, the magnitude of these estimates indicates cardiologists’ concern about patient compliance to therapy and their desire for a novel drug that requires less-frequent dosing than Diovan/Tareg, as long as this agent has similar cardioprotective effects as Diovan/Tareg.”
According to the Waltham, Mass.-based company, a fixed dose of the two drugs, telmisartan, an angiotensin II receptor antagonist, and amplodipine, a calcium-channel blocker, create an effective, safe treatment for hypertension, compared to other combinations.
While U.S. cardiologists suggested that a drug like this could lead to a 30 percent increase in patient shares, European cardiologists surveyed said a combination such as this would earn a patient share of 25 percent.
Currently, patient shares for the combination of drugs Diovan and Tareg reach only 6 percent.
In addition, the fixed dosage with drugs telmisartan and amplodipine could earn clinical gold standard status for the treatment of hypertension in 2013 and through 2018 following its approval for the diseases, accordign to Decision Resources.
“In the crowded hypertension market, 25 to 30 percent patient shares are unlikely reached without any evidence of long-term clinical benefit,” said Nikhil Mehta, therapeutic area director of the firm. “However, the magnitude of these estimates indicates cardiologists’ concern about patient compliance to therapy and their desire for a novel drug that requires less-frequent dosing than Diovan/Tareg, as long as this agent has similar cardioprotective effects as Diovan/Tareg.”