Pfizer’s Norvasc better than beta blockers

Drug giant Pfizer has discovered that its new drug Norvasc is more effective than conventional beta blockers in reducing blood pressures.

The company said that Norvasc was found to reduce blood pressure in the lower arterial region. It claimed that the drug was more successful than beta blockers, whilst also finding that lower central arterial blood pressure is an effective indicator of renal and cardiovascular problems.

The results came from a review of an earlier study named ASCOT, which suggested that Norvasc reduced deaths in patients by around 14 per cent. But despite the effect, reductions in pressure were not showing up in arm readings. The study looked into other areas where pressure may be reduced.

“CAFE demonstrates for the first time in a major clinical outcomes trial that blood pressure lowering drugs have significantly different effects on central arterial blood pressure, despite having a similar impact on peripheral blood pressure,” said Bryan Williams, MD of the University of Leicester.

“These findings, together with the benefits witnessed in the ASCOT study on cardiovascular and all-cause mortality, may have significant implications for hypertension treatment guidelines.”

The researchers believed that beneficial effects were caused by reducing pressure nearer the heart.

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