( iology and Hypertension Program and Pro...)Tekturna, First New Type of High Blood Pressure Medicine in a,Decade, Provides Additional Blood Pressure Reduction When Used With,Diovan,Health

Tekturna received U.S. regulatory approval for treatment of high blood pressure as monotherapy or in combination with other high blood pressure medications. In an extensive clinical trial program involving more than 6,400 patients, Tekturna provided significant blood pressure reductions for a full 24 hours. This once-daily oral therapy is expected to be available by the end of March in U.S. pharmacies as 150 mg and 300 mg tablets.

A second study presented at the meeting compared Tekturna (150 mg or 300 mg alone or 300 mg in combination with HCTZ) to ramipril (5 mg or 10 mg alone or 10 mg in combination with HCTZ), another high blood pressure medicine in a class known as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (ACC presentation #1014). Results showed 61.4% of patients treated with the Tekturna-based therapy reached their blood pressure goal vs. 53.1% of patients treated with the ramipril-based therapy.

Tekturna and Diovan should be discontinued as soon as pregnancy is detected as they may harm an unborn baby, causing injury and even death. Women who plan to become pregnant should talk to their doctor about other treatment options before taking Tekturna or Diovan.

The need for new high blood pressure medicines is urgent given that this condition affects one in three adults in the U.S. and nearly 70% of these patients remain uncontrolled. In fact, many require two or more medications to reach their target blood pressure goal. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, the world's leading cause of death.

"We are very encouraged by these results since they show Tekturna and Diovan are effective w
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