FDA OKs telmisartan for hypertension

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)approved the angiotensin II receptor blocker, telmisartan (Boehringer Ingelheim’s Micardis), for the management of hypertensive patients. In clinical trials, a once-daily dose of telmisartan effectively controlled hypertension in up to 65% of patients and has been shown to be effective when compared to treatment with amlodipine, enalapril, and losartan. The drug was well toler-ated, with the incidence of adverse effects similar to that seen in patients receiving placebos.