Hypertension drug saves lives, money
September 1, 1998
Hypertension drug saves lives, money
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in Rockville, MD, recently approved the drug Posicor (mibefradil dihydrochloride) produced by Hoffmann-La Roche in Nutley, NJ, as the first drug in a new class of tetralol calcium antagonists for the once-daily treatment of hypertension and chronic stable angina pectoris. The drug is not only effective but costs less than other popular hypertension drugs, researchers announced at the recent National Managed health Care Congress in Atlanta.
A head-to-head study of hypertension treatment costs found that Posicor reduces overall treatment costs by $70 per patient, per year over amlodipine. The two drugs are equally effective and similarly priced. However, the overall treatment costs for patients receiving Posicor in a 1,200 patient study were lower because the drug causes fewer side effects than amlodipine. For example, amlodipine patients had a 2.35 to four time higher incidence of edema than mibefradil dihydrochloride patients.
Posicor selectively blocks T-type calcium channels of blood vessels, while also blocking L-type calcium channels. Other calcium antagonists block L-type calcium channels only. Clinical studies indicate that Posicor works equally well in men, women, and older adults. In addition, studies indicate that the drug works equally well in African-Americans, as well as patients with kidney disease.
In clinical studies, Posicor was well-tolerated at once-daily doses of up to 100 mg. Common side effects included headache and runny nose. n
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