Lotrel, a Single-Pill Combination for Treating High Blood Pressure, Reduced Cardiovascular Events by 20% in High-Ris...( - ACCOMPLISH first study to compa...),Health

- ACCOMPLISH first study to compare two single-pill combinations of commonly used high blood pressure medicines in reduction of cardiovascular

events

- RAS inhibition with an ACEI was the foundation of the combination therapies in this study and exceptional blood pressure control rates were

achieved

- Further analyses of full data set will examine effects on specific

patient populations - High dose formulations of benazepril/amlodipine besylate used in this

study are only available as Lotrel 5/40 mg and 10/40 mg capsule

CHICAGO, March 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Interim results from the ACCOMPLISH (Avoiding Cardiovascular Events through COMbination Therapy in Patients LIving with Systolic Hypertension) trial demonstrate that high-risk, high blood pressure patients treated with Lotrel(R) (amlodipine besylate and benazepril HCl) had 20% fewer cardiovascular events than those taking a benazepril and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) combination. This is the first cardiovascular outcomes trial in a hypertensive population where all patients were randomized to receive a single-pill combination treatment at the onset of the trial as opposed to a step care regimen.

"These results suggest that the combination of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) and calcium channel blocker in Lotrel yielded better patient outcomes in high-risk hypertensive patients than the ACEI and HCTZ combination," explained Kenneth Jamerson, MD, professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor and lead investigator of the trial. "Further, a strategy of starting patients in the trial on a single-pill combination proved to be very efficient in significantly increasing blood pressure control rates."

Lotrel is approved for the treatment of high blood pressure. It should not be used before other medications have bee
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