New Study Shows BENICAR(R) (olmesartan medoxomil) Reverses Blood Vessel Damage Independent of Blood Pressur...( Data published in the Journal of t...),Health

Data published in the Journal of the American Society of Hypertension

demonstrate that early blockade of angiotensin II reversed vascular

hypertrophy

PARSIPPANY, N.J., June 16 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study published in the current Journal of the American Society of Hypertension demonstrates that the hypertension treatment olmesartan medoxomil was effective in reversing the narrowing of the arteries that occurs in patients with hypertension. The study, titled VIOS (Vascular Improvement with Olmesartan medoxomil Study) was a one-year, exploratory study that evaluated the effects of an angiotensin receptor blocker (olmesartan medoxomil) vs. a beta-blocker (atenolol) on vascular function and structure in patients with Stage 1 hypertension, independent of the blood pressure lowering effects of these agents.(1)

In the VIOS trial, olmesartan medoxomil, through early blockade of angiotensin II, improved the structure abnormalities of resistance arteries in patients with hypertension as measured by arterial wall to lumen ratio (W/L), returning arterial architecture to normal levels after one year of treatment. This protective effect was not seen with the comparator agent in the study, atenolol.(2) Olmesartan medoxomil is marketed in the United States by Daiichi Sankyo, Inc., as BENICAR(R). BENICAR and BENICAR HCT(R) (olmesartan medoxomil/hydrochlorothiazide) are indicated for the treatment of hypertension. They may be used alone or in combination with other antihypertensive agents. BENICAR HCT is not indicated for initial therapy. BENICAR and BENICAR HCT have not been FDA approved for other indications such as end organ disease or other hypertension related morbidity.

"We believe the VIOS data add to the growing evidence for the role of angiotensin receptor blockers in preventing or reversing vascular damage at many stages during this disease process," said Carlos M. Ferrario, M.D., one of the study's lead inve
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