Daiichi Sankyo announces amlodipine and olmesartan study results

Daiichi Sankyo has announced the first phase III study data relating to a combination of amlodipine besylate and olmesartan medoxomil as a treatment for hypertension patients.

Results from the trial presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hypertension saw the combination of the calcium channel blocker and angiotensin receptor blocker showing significant reductions in diastolic and seated systolic blood pressure in these patients.

In November 2006, the company announced the filing of a new drug application with the US Food and Drug Administration for the combination treatment, with the firm planning to use the brand name Azor for the therapy.

Steven G Chrysant of the University of Oklahoma School of Medicine, said: “All combinations of amlodipine and olmesartan produced significantly greater mean
reductions in both diastolic and systolic blood pressure than either medication alone.”

He added that patients administered with combinations of ten mg of amlodipine had a lower incidence of edema compared to those treated with the same amount of the compound as a monotherapy.

In January 2007, Daiichi Sankyo announced that its WelChol (colesevelam HLl) treatment for type two diabetes could potentially be used for LDL-cholesterol reduction.