Daiichi Sankyo: Benicar reverses blood vessel damage

Daiichi Sankyo has announced the publication of new data showing that Benicar (olmersartan medoxomil) reverses blood vessel damage in hypertension patients.

The study, published in the current issue of the Journal of the American Society of Hypertension, showed that the compound was effective in reversing the narrowing of the arteries in these patients independently of blood pressure lowering.

In the VIOS trial, the compound was compared with atenolol, a beta blocker, which did not show the same protective effects on the arteries.

Benicar is a member of the ABR class of antihypertensive drugs that reduces blood pressure through the inhibition of the angiotensin II receptor on the blood vessels and by antagonising the release of the hormone that causes increased blood volume and salt retention.

Carlos M Ferrario, professor and Director of Hypertension and the Vascular Research Centre at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, said: “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.”

In May 2007, Daiichi Sankyo presented positive results for its fixed-dose combination drug Benica HCT (olmesartan medoxomil/hydrochlorothiazide) in stage two hypertension patients at 12 weeks.