Heart specialists welcome ARB trial

Local heart specialists welcomed the results of a landmark trial showing that the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) telmisartan is as effective as, and better tolerated than, the gold standard angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor ramipril in reducing the risk of heart attack, stroke and hospitalization for congestive heart failure in high-risk patients.

To date, telmisartan is the only ARB proven to match ramipril in outcomes and cardiovascular protective benefits in the broad population of high-risk cardiovascular patients.

The landmark study, ONgoing Telmisartan Alone and in combination with Ramipril Global Endpoint Trial (ONTARGET), involved more than 700 sites worldwide, including the Philippines.

It evaluated more than 25,600 high-risk cardiovascular patients with normal or controlled high blood pressure, and a history of a broad range of cardiovascular diseases, or diabetes mellitus.

ACE inhibitors and ARBs are drugs which block the renin-angiotensin system, which is responsible for high blood pressure and other cardiovascular complications.

Telmisartan was discovered and developed by Boehringer Ingelheim. In the Philippines, the product is marketed in cooperation with GlaxoSmithKline.