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| |  Most Hypertension Patients Not Adequately Treated Says Expert Panel ANAHEIM, Calif., Nov. 15, 1995 -- A panel of worldwide cardiovascular experts presented scientific evidence here that strongly supports the use of once-daily, long-acting calcium channel blockers as first-line therapy for hypertension and angina, Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) said today. The data were presented to physicians at a Pfizer cardiovascular symposium focusing on high blood pressure as a major risk factor for heart disease. The meeting was held prior to the American Heart Association's annual meeting held here. Additionally, the long-acting Pfizer calcium channel blocker Norvasc (amlodipine) was featured in presentations this week about its safety in patients with congestive heart failure. "Reports over the last eight months about the use of older, short- acting calcium channel blockers in hypertension have caused confusion and uncertainty," said Hubert Pouleur, M.D., of Pfizer Central Research. "We are pleased to put these reports in perspective and to underscore the clinical benefits of these therapies." Richard H. Grimm, Jr., M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Minnesota School of Medicine, noted that the past 25 years have seen the development of improved, innovative antihypertensive medications, notably the long-acting calcium channel blockers. "These newer drugs are generally tolerated as well or better than older agents and are very effective in controlling blood pressure," he said. Underscoring the importance of treating hypertension, Lennart Hansson, M.D., University of Uppsala, Sweden, said that high blood pressure is a well-established 'marker' for predicting cardiovascular disease. "Even the mildest elevations of blood pressure carry increased cardiovascular risk," he said, adding that life expectancy is considerably shortened "with even the mildest forms of hypertension." However, Robert A. Kloner, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Southern California, said only half of the U.S. patients with hypertension are currently being treated, and only about 25 percent of hypertensives have adequately controlled blood pressure. Dr. Kloner cited several factors for inadequate blood pressure control, including patients not complying with therapies due to unpleasant side effects and the fact that some classes of anti- hypertensives are not clinically successful in treating elderly or African-American patients, for whom high blood pressure is a major health problem. Dr. Kloner cited, among others, a Veterans' Administration clinical trial that showed calcium channel blockers to be the most effective drugs in treating hypertension in both young and elderly African-American patients. Dr. Kloner presented data on the newer, longer-acting calcium channel blockers nifedipine GITS and amlodipine which suggested in the largest U.S. studies to date that these agents were safe and not associated with a postulated excess of heart attacks. The safe use of Norvasc in patients with congestive heart failure was discussed in presentations here about the PRAISE study, conducted by Milton Packer, M.D., director of the Center for Heart Failure Research, at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, in New York. The study showed that Norvasc was safe to use in even the most seriously ill patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). It is the first calcium channel blocker to be demonstrated safe in treating patients with CHF. Dr. Pouleur said the safety and efficacy of long-acting calcium channel blockers is being demonstrated in recently completed trials like PRAISE and in other prospective, randomized clinical trials around the world. Dr. Pouleur noted that more than 90,000 patients will be enrolled in such trials and he affirmed Pfizer's commitment to the 40,000-patient ALLHAT trial, sponsored by the National Institute of Health. Pfizer is contributing approximately $40 million in support of ALLHAT. Commenting on recent reports raising questions about the older, short-acting calcium channel blockers, Dr. Pouleur said: "The epidemiological studies of the short-acting agents that have been so widely publicized have, in fact, been contradicted by other epidemiological studies, sometimes by the same authors. However, one thing is quite clear: The safety data of the long-acting Pfizer agents discussed today show absolutely no indication of increased risk relative to other anti-hypertensives. And, in the case of Norvasc, the PRAISE study demonstrates it is safe for even the most seriously ill CHF patients." Pfizer Inc. is a research-based, diversified health-care company with global operations. The company reported sales of approximately $8.3 billion for 1994, and expects to spend up to $1.5 billion on research and development this year.
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