Telmisartan approved by the European Commission to reduce the risk of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity in a broad spectrum of at risk patients
The European Commission recently approved a new indication for the Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (ARB) telmisartan, based on the outcomes of the landmark ONTARGET
® trial program. This new indication expands its usage beyond the treatment of essential hypertension to include broad cardiovascular prevention, specifically the reduction of cardiovascular morbidity in patients:
- with manifest atherothrombotic cardiovascular disease (history of coronary heart disease, stroke, or peripheral arterial disease) or
- type 2 diabetes mellitus with documented target organ damage.
Ramipril has often been seen as the “gold standard” in CVD prevention, based on the HOPE
® trial.
The ONTARGET
® trial results demonstrated that telmisartan provided the same level of cardiovascular protection as the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor ramipril, but with superior tolerability and higher treatment compliance – even in a patient population selected to tolerate ACE inhibitors. With these results, supported by the new indication, telmisartan can now set a “Gold Standard” in treatment and allow physicians to protection to an even broad spectrum of patients at CV risk.
See more information on the ONTARGET ® trial.
Expert Opinions from members of the ICMA faculty will be posted shortly.
October 2008
Despite advances in the management of cardiovascular risk factors, cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide – and continues to increase in prevalence, particularly in the developing world. New evidence that raises new potentials and discussions in the prevention and management of CVD is therefore of great interest.
2008 saw the completion and publication of the ONTARGET®, TRANSCEND® and PRoFESS™ trials. Collectively with cardiovascular (CV) outcome data from over 50,000 patients, these studies provide a valuable opportunity to examine current practice and therapeutic options in protecting against CVD.
During Oct 2008, a symposium supported by Bayer Schering Pharma was conducted in Athens, Greece, where members of the ICMA faculty presented the most recent evidence and clinical opinions concerning the outcomes of ONTARGET®, TRANSCEND® and PRoFESS™. The symposium, chaired by Dr. Alejandro de la Sierra, examined the trials’ results and the clinical issues surrounding morbi-mortality trials, new evidence and guidelines in clinical practice.
The full symposium can be viewed online by clicking on the links below:
Additional information on the trials’ rationale, design and results can be found by accessing the links below:
