Pfizer study shows benefits of Inspra in heart failure treatment

Pfizer has published data from a new clinical study that demonstrates the benefits of using its drug Inspra as part of a treatment regime for heart failure patients.

In a multinational phase IIIb trial, the product was shown to significantly reduce the incidence of new onset atrial fibrillation or flutter in patients with systolic heart failure and mild symptoms, when combined with standard recommended therapy.

This conclusion was formed after studying data from more than 2,700 patients and was a specified secondary endpoint in the Emphasis-HF trial.

Professor Karl Swedberg of the department of medicine at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenborg said this could assist the difficult process of managing heart failure and atrial fibrillation, which often coincide in clinical practice.

"Our findings, which suggest that aldosterone antagonism in heart failure might influence atrial fibrosis and remodelling and therefore the risk of developing atrial fibrillation/flutter, should provide real encouragement for doctors and patients alike," he said.

This comes after Pfizer last week published new clinical data showing the efficacy of axitinib, its developmental treatment for renal cell carcinoma.