Fixed-dose combo of telmisartan/amlodipine 'will become clinical gold standard for hypertension' in 2013

A hypertension drug that requires less-frequent dosing than Novartis's Diovan/Tareg (valsartan) would earn 30% patient share according to surveyed US cardiologists. Similarly, in Europe, such an agent would earn comparable patient share of 25% according to surveyed European cardiologists. These patient shares are significantly higher than Diovan/Tareg's current patient share (6.1%) and are higher than the patient share achieved by any current hypertension drug, states a new report from Decision Resources.

"In the crowded hypertension market, 25% to 30% patient shares are unlikely reached without any evidence of long-term clinical benefit. However, the magnitude of these estimates indicate cardiologists' concern about patient compliance to therapy and their desire for a novel drug that requires less-frequent dosing than Diovan/Tareg, as long as this agent has similar cardioprotective effects as Diovan/Tareg," stated Decision Resources therapeutic area director Nikhil Mehta.

The report, titled Hypertension: Among Fixed-Dose Combination Agents, AIIRA/CCBs Stand Out for Their Superior Efficacy and Safety, also finds that the fixed-dose combination telmisartan/amlodipine will earn Decision Resources' proprietary clinical gold standard status for hypertension in 2013 and through 2018 following its approval for the disease. Telmisartan/ amlodipine has competitive advantages over other emerging therapies because it combines an effective angiotensin II receptor antagonist (AIIRA) - telmisartan - with a calcium-channel blocker (CCB) - amlodipine. Combination of an AIIRA and a CCB provides superior efficacy and safety compared with other fixed-dose combinations.