Takeda hails Blopress for blood pressure control

Takeda Pharmaceutical has reported its belief in the efficacy of a fixed dose combination tablet of Blopress (candesartan cilexetil) and a diuretic (hydrochlorochlorothiazide) as a treatment for hypertension.

Blopress is an angiotensin II receptor blocker that was first launched in 1999, becoming the first such drug with a chronic heart failure indication in Japan, while hydrochlorochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic that increases the flow of urine to lower blood pressure.

The company notes that concominant therapy of an angiotensin receptor blocker and diuretic can offer a synergistic anti-hypertensive effect.

Takeda has consequently submitted a new drug application for the combination with the ministry of health, labour and welfare in Japan.

Masaomi Miyamoto, general manager of the pharmaceutical development division of Takeda, said: “We believe that the fixed dose combination tablet of Blopress with diuretic will be able to offer the better control of blood pressure.”

He added his expectations that the new drug application would result in a maximisation of added value for Blopress.

In August 2007, Takeda reported on the progress of TAK-536 to phase II in Japan, with the compound forecast to be an eventual successor to Blopress.