Comparison of BENICAR HCT 40/12.5 and 40/25 mg/day and Amlodipine + Benazepril 5/20 and 10/20 mg/day Presented at American Society of Hypertension Twenty-Second Annual Scientific Meeting

New data presented at the American Society of Hypertension's Twenty-Second Annual Scientific Meeting (ASH 2007) in Chicago demonstrated that the fixed-dose combination BENICAR HCT (olmesartan medoxomil/hydrochlorothiazide) was associated with a greater mean reduction in seated systolic blood pressure (SeSBP) at 12 weeks (primary endpoint) in patients with Stage 2 hypertension, compared with amlodipine + benazepril study doses(1). Systolic blood pressure is considered a better predictor of major cardiovascular adverse events than is diastolic blood pressure, particularly in older individuals. Blood pressure reductions with BENICAR HCT and amlodipine + benazepril were examined.

After 12 weeks of treatment, patients receiving BENICAR HCT 40 mg/12.5-25 mg saw their SeSBP drop a mean of 33* points from baseline (167/102 mm Hg vs. 133/84 mm Hg), compared with a mean of 27* points from baseline (167/101 mm Hg vs. 140/86 mm Hg) for patients receiving amlodipine + benazepril 5/20 mg and 10/20 mg, according to the study.

The purpose of this study was to compare the blood pressure (BP) lowering effect of fixed dose combinations of BENICAR HCT 40/12.5 mg and 40/25 mg and amlodipine + benazepril 5/20 mg and 10/20 mg. No comparisons were made with amlodipine + benazepril 10/40 mg, the current maximum dose of this combination, because it was not available at the time this study was designed and initiated.

"The efficacy data results show a benefit for patients receiving either therapy, while those receiving BENICAR HCT showed a greater reduction," said Henry Punzi, MD, of the Punzi Medical Center and Hypertension Research Institute, Carrollton, TX, one of the study investigators.

When these data were examined to determine the blood pressure goal endpoint, more patients treated with the BENICAR HCT study doses reached blood pressure goals recommended by JNC 7 (
* Blood pressure reduction reported as least square means, last
observation carried forward (LOCF)

** Benicar is a registered trademark of Sankyo Pharma, Inc., and Campral
is a registered trademark of Merck Sante s.a.s, subsidiary of Merck
KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.

1. Stage 2 hypertension = systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to
160 mm Hg or a diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 100 mm
Hg, as defined by The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on
Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure
(JNC 7)
2. JNC 7 = The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on
Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure
(JNC 7), which issued new guidelines in 2003 for hypertension
prevention and management.
3. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4621 Site
accessed 5/11/2007
4. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=2114 Site
accessed 5/17/2007
5. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4621 Site
accessed 5/11/2007

Source: Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.

For more information visit: http://www.dsus.com/