GSK announces results of Comet

Retrospective analysis of GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK’s) Carvedilol or Metoprolol European Trial (Comet) has found that the heart medication carvedilol could prevent heart attacks.

Patients with heart failure who received the therapy suffered fewer heart attacks and strokes compared to patients who had been administered another beta blocker, metoprolol tartrate.

The findings are part of analysis of Comet published in the March 6th issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Usage of carvedilol reduced the risk of heart attacks, unstable angina, or stroke by up to 19 per cent, the analysis showed.

A total of 106 of the 160 patients on metoprolol tartrate who suffered a non-fatal heart attack or stroke later died, while 61 of 124 patients on carvedilol who had a non-fatal heart attack or stroke died.

Comet is the longest and largest mortality trial to date comparing beta-blockers in heart failure and stroke patients.

The double-blind, randomised parallel group study included more than 3,000 patients with heart failure – primarily due to ischemic or dilated cardiomyopathy. Study participants were followed for an average of 58 months.

Carvedilol is the only beta-blocking agent approved by the Food and Drug Administration to improve survival in patients with mild to severe heart failure.