AstraZeneca’s Atacand ‘associated with cost savings’

Atacand, AstraZeneca’s treatment for high blood pressure, has been found to be cost-effective, according to new research.

A new study has found that the initial cost of adding Atacand to therapies for the treatment of heart failure is outweighed by the savings as well as the health benefits by encouraging reduced mortality and morbidity. The results come as a new report on the drug was published in the European Heart Journal as part of its CHARM programme.

Professor John McMurray of Glasgow Western Infirmary and lead author, stated: “These economic analyses, coupled with the clinical findings of the CHARM Programme, have clear implications for the management of patients with heart failure.”

“Not only does candesartan improve all clinical outcomes in heart failure, but also offers these benefits at little or no additional costs to the health care system and in some cases cost savings,” he concluded.

Atacand is also marketed by Takeda Pharmaceuticals. It is also known as Amias and Ratacand. AstraZeneca reported $254 million (137.9 million pounds) sales of Atacand during the first quarter of 2006, making it the company’s third-largest selling cardiovascular drug behind Seloken/Toprol-XL and Crestor.

Heart failure is the most common reason for the hospitalisation of over-65s, according to the Study group on Heart failure Awareness and Perception in Europe (Shape). It says that 14 million Europeans suffer from heart failure and it is becoming more common as people live longer.

Shape states that heart failure is more common among men than women and the incidence of heart failure in women is falling, in comparison to men.

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