Novel Agent Lowers BP Two Ways

By Crystal Phend, Staff Writer, MedPage Today Published: May 12, 2009 Reviewed by Robert Jasmer, MD; Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO, May 12 -- A novel agent that blocks both angiotensin and endothelin receptors may lower blood pressure with a single pill that works the way two antihypertensives do now, researchers found.

Action Points  

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• Explain to interested patients that the dual-acting agent is not FDA approved for any indication.
  
  
• Note that this study was published as an abstract and presented orally at a conference. These data and conclusions should be considered to be preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

At the highest, 800-mg dose, the single molecule compound reduced systolic pressure by 23.4 mm Hg over 12 weeks compared with a 10.7 mm Hg reduction by the angiotensin receptor blocker irbesartan (Avapro, P<0.003).>