Landmark ONTARGET(TM) Trial Demonstrates Micardis(R) is Equally Effective as Ramipril, with Fewer Discontinuations, in a Broad High-Risk Cardiovascular ...( Results of ONTARGET (ONgoing Telmi...),Health

Results of ONTARGET (ONgoing Telmisartan Alone and in combination with Ramipril Global Endpoint Trial) involving 25,620 patients presented today at the 57th Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology

and published online in the New England Journal of Medicine

CHICAGO, March 31 /PRNewswire/ -- The results of the landmark ONTARGET(TM) trial have demonstrated that MICARDIS(R) (telmisartan), a second-generation angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), is equally effective as the current standard, ramipril, in reducing the risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke and hospitalization for congestive heart failure in a broad cross-section of high-risk cardiovascular patients with normal blood pressure or controlled high blood pressure, and resulted in fewer discontinuations.(1) These cardiovascular events occurred in 1,423 patients (16.7 percent) receiving telmisartan versus 1,412 patients (16.5 percent) receiving ramipril.(1) The relative risk (ratio of the probability of the event occurring in the telmisartan group versus the ramipril group) was 1.01, with a 95 percent CI of 0.94 - 1.09.

Telmisartan is now the only ARB to have demonstrated cardio and vascular risk reduction benefits beyond lowering blood pressure in this high-risk population;(1) these benefits may be attributed to the specific pharmacological properties and mode of action of the drug. Previously, in 2000, the HOPE trial showed that the cardiovascular risk for patients treated with the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor ramipril was reduced by approximately 20 percent compared with placebo.(2) This meant that every fifth serious cardiovascular event in a high risk group of patients was prevented.(2)

"The ONTARGET trial shows that telmisartan is a well-tolerated treatment in high-risk cardiovascular patients that is as effective as ramipril in preventing heart attacks, stroke and hospitalizations for heart failure and dea
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