Takeda holds experts’ summit on hypertension

MANILA, Philippines - Around 500 local primary care physicians and specialists from various medical disciplines recently attended an experts’ summit that presented a new trend in the management of hypertension.

“Hypertension is a major risk factor for stroke, heart attack and kidney failure. The National Nutrition and Health Survey II (NNHeS II) in 2008 revealed that nine million Filipinos suffered from hypertension or a prevalence rate of 20 percent, a four-percent increase since the first NNHeS was conducted in 2003,” said Dr. Dante Morales, president of the Philippine Society of Hypertension.

A respected cardiologist and academician, Morales provided summit participants with a review of current and updated hypertension treatment guidelines and an assessment of unmet needs in hypertension management in the Philippines.

Morales was one of the three speakers in the Hypertension Summit held on April 10 at One Esplanade in Pasay City and organized by Takeda Pharmaceuticals Philippines, local affiliate of Japan’s largest pharmaceutical company and global industry leader Takeda.

The summit was also the venue for the launch of two innovative Takeda anti-hypertension medications: azilsartan and candesartan + amlodipine.

“A drug that provides powerful 24-hour blood pressure (BP) control is critical in achieving target BP and reducing cardiovascular risk,” said Prof. Hermann Haller, full professor and chairman of the Division of Nephrology, and director of the Department of Nephrology and Hypertension of Hannover Medical School, University of Hannover, Germany.

Haller introduced the novel angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), azilsartan. ARBs are a class of anti-hypertension medications that blocks the effect of a hormone (angiotensin II), which causes blood vessels to narrow. By blocking the action of angiotensin II, ARBs allow blood vessels to relax and widen, thus lowering blood pressure and making it easier for the heart to pump blood around the body.

“Clinical trials have demonstrated that compared to other ARBs, azilsartan provides superior BP lowering and helps more hypertensive patients achieve BP control earlier,” said Haller.

Prof. Alan Gradman, professor of medicine at Temple University School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, highlighted the unique challenges of managing hypertension in the elderly and underscored the importance of tailoring the treatment approach for this patient population. “Treating elderly hypertensive patients requires the right balance between safety and efficacy. Combination therapy, particularly fixed-dose combinations such as candesartan plus amlodipine, can provide this balance,” said Gradman.

Takeda’s fixed-dose combination of candesartan cilexetil and amlodipine besilate represents two of the most prescribed ARBs and calcium channel blockers (CCBs), respectively. Both anti-hypertension medications have a proven track record of efficacy and safety.

“We are privileged to partner with local physicians in helping address unmet needs in hypertension management,” said Dr. Sandra Torres, medical director of Takeda Pharmaceuticals Philippines.