Early test results show that a new type of hypertension treatment is effective a controlling high blood pressure with a single daily dose.
Aliskiren, under development by Novartis, is the first in a new class of antihypertensive drugs called renin inhibitors that work by by targeting an enzyme released by the kidneys that can affect blood pressure.
Results of initial clinical trials suggest that the new medication is well tolerated and that patients exhibit good adherence to the once-a-day oral medication.
The evaluation appears in the premier issue of the journal Core Evidence.
Hypertension affects approximately 50 million people in the United States and about 1 billion people worldwide, the journal said. The World Health Organization estimates that there are 7.1 million deaths each year due to complications of hypertension.
© Copyright 2005 by United Press International
