British National Health System Offers New Blood Pressure Medication Aliskiren

The National Health Service in the UK, which because of its enormous patient base must carefully examine what it offers, has begun distributing aliskiren, a renin inhibitor blood pressure management medication said to be the first new treatment for the condition in 10 years, and a breakthrough for problem high blood pressure.

Aliskiren has been available in the US under the name Tekturna since spring of 2007. Since 63,000 unnecessary deaths a year in the UK are blamed on hypertension and related problems, additional options for treatment are welcomed by many physicians. Studies have shown the effectiveness of the medication by itself and, an announcement from the manufacturer notes, in combination with existing medications such as ACE inhibitors, beta blockers, and the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ). In difficult to treat cases of hypertension, an additional treatment option could be very important.

The release by Novartis notes that aliskiren has been shown to be compatible with other medications used to treat hypertension and diabetes complications, such as ACE inhibitors, ARBs, Beta Blockers, Calcium Channel Blockers, and HCTZ. The Novartis announcement was in connection with the presentation of a paper at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Vienna, Austria on September 1, 2007. Since FDA approval in March, 2007, reception has been mostly positive in the US, while some question the usefulness of a new, expensive medication, and others raise questions of theoretical side effects not yet seen.

Since aliskiren works on the "source" of the Renin System, a kidney-based system in the body which affects blood pressure, it may be an improvement over other medications which affect parts of the renin system further "downstream." Since treatments, according to the Novartis release, tend to have effects in the 5-7mmHg systolic range, combination treatments are especially important in some patients. Some have suggested that aliskiren may have additional benefit for diabetic patients with kidney-related complications.

Debates continue in medical journals about the role of aliskiren in the physician's arsenal against high blood pressure. As with any new medication, further studies and information will be needed to help inform prescribers about the likely outcome of adding aliskiren to a patient's medications. For some patients, though, aliskiren, known as Tekturna in the US, may be a long awaited option.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a chronic condition which places many patients, especially at middle age and above, at increased risk of stroke, heart attack, or even death. Diabetic patients have additional risks associated with high blood pressure. Because of these concerns it is a focus of treatment and of intense study by medical associations and institutions around the world. Medical providers and insurers also have a strong interest in helping patients achieve blood pressure in acceptable ranges, so the availability of this medication through the NHS in the UK suggests that it has been adopted into the mainstream arsenal against this important medical condition.

"First Product in a New Class of Medicine to Treat High Blood Pressure in Over 10 Years Now Available in the UK", http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=206107

"FDA Approves Aliskiren, First New Antihypertensive in More Than 10 Years", http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/553192

"Hypertension rebels voice doubts about aliskiren", http://www.theheart.org/article/791131.do