Novartis reports Rasilez trial results

Novartis has announced the results of the Aloft study of Rasilez (alskiren) at the congress of the European Society of Cardiology in Vienna, with the company reporting potential benefits of the compound beyond the lowering of blood pressure.

The company reports that new data suggests the compound can potentially reduce the severity of heart failure, with patients exhibiting reductions in the secretions of (brain natriuretic peptide) BNP – a substance whose levels are believed to reflect the severity of disease.

Additionally, Novartis reports that the compound was well-tolerated when combined with other treatments for heart failure.

Rasilez is the first of a new type of drug for high blood pressure known as direct rennin inhibitors that has shown significant blood pressure lowering when used as a monotherapy or in conjunction with other drugs.

James Shannon, global head of development at Novartis Pharma, said: “The Aloft study highlights the potential benefits of Rasilez beyond blood pressure lowering in a vulnerable, hard-to-treat patient population.”

He added that the compound has previously shown good tolerability and the ability to lower blood pressure in a number of clinical trials.

Last month, the compound received marketing approval in the European Union as a treatment for high blood pressure, while results of trials exploring the potential of the drug in patients with kidney failure are expected before the end of 2007.