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March 06, 2007
New HTN Drug Approved
The FDA recently announced approval of a new drug for the treatment of hypertension, manufactured by Novartis Pharmaceuticals. This medication is unique in that it acts on a slightly different pathway than other existing treatments, acting earlier in the hypertensive pathway and on a different compound, renin. This medication was demonstrated to be effective in multiple large-scale, placebo-controlled studies. However, effectiveness relative to existing treatments was not established.
This new medication represents an exciting opportunity for patients who do not respond to the existing treatments. However, because relative efficacy has not been established, it is possible that extensive direct-to-consumer advertising may pressure patients into requesting a switch to the new 'miracle drug,' even if their hypertension is already controlled. It is, therefore, up to patients, physicians, and pharmacists to establish a dialog to determine the most effective treatment, both in terms of health outcomes and finances, for any given patient.
For more information on Tekturna, the drug described, visit http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01580.html
Posted by kwiatkg at March 6, 2007 08:41 PM