Pfizer hypertension drug ‘lowers diabetes risk’

Pfizer’s hypertension, amlodipine, drug lowers the risk of diabetes, according to a new study presented at the World Congress of Cardiology in Barcelona.

An Anglo-Scandinavian Cardiac Outcomes Trial (Ascot), found that amlodipine reduces the risk of new-onset diabetes in more than a third of people with high blood pressure.

The study compared the success of amlodipine, marketed in the UK by Pfizer as Istin, in comparison with other forms of treatment and found less numbers of those treated with amlodipine contracted diabetes in comparison with those taking other drugs.

Dr Ajay Gupta, a spokesman for Ascot, commented: “One of the most important risk factors for developing new-onset diabetes was being allocated to the beta-blocker plus or minus diuretic treatment strategy.

“Patients allocated to the more modern blood pressure-lowering strategy – amlodipine plus or minus perindopril – were 34 percent less likely to develop diabetes. This is important as diabetes significantly increases the risk of myocardial infarctions (heart attacks) and strokes.”

The trial also found that there was an 11 per cent reduction in death for those taking amlodipine-based therapy, together with a 23 per cent reduction in fatal and non-fatal strokes.

Istin contains amlodipine besilate as an active ingredient, which is known as a calcium channel blocker. The drug works by slowing the movement of calcium through muscle cells in the walls of blood vessels – depriving them of calcium and hence forcing them to relax.

This widening of the arteries reduces the effort the heart takes when pumping blood and is hence used to prevent the likelihood of angina attacks.

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