Novartis’ 2-in-1 blood pressure drug Exforge launched in the UK
pharmafile | March 2, 2007 | News story | Sales and Marketing |Â Â Â
Novartis new hypertension drug Exforge has been launched in the UK, promising to help more patients lower their blood pressure and avoid side-effects
Exforge is a combination of Novartis' own angiotensin II receptor blocker Diovan with amlodipine – the now off-patent Istin/Norvasc from Pfizer.
It is the first time that an ARB has been combined with a calcium channel blocker and Novartis say the 2-in-1 formulation could help nine out of 10 patients hit their blood pressure lowering target.
"Most patients need two or more medicines to control their blood pressure and achieve guideline targets," said James Shannon, Global Head of Development at Novartis.
Exforge promises to be an attractive therapy option because it brings together two of the most powerful mechanisms of action in a single pill.
But because the new treatment hasn't demonstrated superiority over existing generic blood pressure treatments, Exforge is unlikely to be taken up as a first-line treatment.
In the UK, the drug has been priced at the same level as Diovan (valsartan), Novartis' biggest-selling brand. The company hopes its launch will maintain sales momentum as the UK patent on Diovan is set to expire in 2011.
Hypertension is one of the industry's most competitive sectors. In the UK, Merck Sharp & Dohme's veteran Cozaar (losartan) is the biggest selling drug in the angiotensin II receptor blocker class.
Cozaar earned primary care sales of £87 million in England in 2005, well ahead of Diovan at just under £42 million.
Aimed at patients with mild to moderate and severe hypertension, Exforge has been shown in clinical trials to reduce blood pressure by an average of 36/29 mmHg in uncontrolled, severely hypertensive patients.
At present, it is estimated that 75% of patients remain above the NICE target of 140mmHg, despite receiving treatment. Novartis says Exforge also delivers lower incidence of oedema or fluid retention often seen around the ankles in patients taking blood pressure medication.
Novartis has another, more important new hypertension drug nearing launch. Tekturna is the first blood pressure drug with a new mechanism in 10 years, and is expected to gain FDA and European approval shortly.
Peak sales forecasts for Tekturna (aliskeren) are as high as $3.5 billion, but Novartis must first reassure regulators that the side-effects seen in animals are not a cause for concern.
