AstraZeneca: Study shows Atacand cuts risk of hypertension by 15.6% for patients with prehypertension

By Ted A. Knutson

Washington, March 14 - AstraZeneca plc said Tuesday a new study shows a 15.6% relative risk reduction of hypertension for patients with prehypertension when they were treated with Atacand.

Results of the Trophy study (Trial Of Preventing Hypertension) were presented in the late-breaking clinical trials session at the American College of Cardiology's 55th Annual Scientific Session.

"The Trophy study is groundbreaking because it's the first study to examine the potential to change the natural history of hypertension through early pharmacological intervention in patients diagnosed with prehypertension," said principal investigator Stevo Julius, MD, professor of internal medicine and physiology, University of Michigan, in a press release.

Atacand is indicated for the treatment of hypertension. The drug is not indicated to prevent the development of hypertension or for the treatment of prehypertension. In addition, Atacand (candesartan cilexetil) is indicated for the treatment of heart failure (NYHA class II-IV) in patients with left-ventricular systolic dysfunction (ejection fraction less than or equal to 40%) to reduce cardiovascular death and to reduce heart failure hospitalizations.

Atacand also has an added effect on these outcomes when used with an ACE inhibitor.

The rationale behind Trophy is that if it were possible to prevent the transition from prehypertension to stage 1 hypertension, there could be a positive benefit on public health.

London-based AstraZeneca develops prescription medicines for cancer, inflammation and cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases.

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