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Fixed-dose combination therapies in hypertension offer improved adherence as well as cost savings according to new data
Rome, Italy (June 8, 2012) – For patients with hypertension, fixed-dose combination (FDC) therapies offer not only improved patient adherence translating into better blood pressure control but cost savings as well, according to new data presented at a Daiichi Sankyo press briefing in Rome today. The data, based on the Sokol economic model, showed potential yearly cost savings of €1.8 million if 10,000 hypertensive patients in each of the five EU countries (Spain, UK, Italy, Germany and France) were switched from a free dose combination of two hypertension treatments to a respective FDC containing the same compounds.1 The savings were based on improved adherence to treatment translating into better blood pressure control and subsequent reduced risk of hospitalisation and associated medical costs.
Treatment adherence and persistence is a real problem for patients with hypertension, with approximately 50% of patients discontinuing treatment after one year.2 Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and adherence to antihypertensive treatment is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular events.3 Therefore, the implications of over half of all hypertensive patients currently not taking their blood pressure medication are huge and may in part explain the high rate of hypertension-related mortality in Europe.4
One reason for poor adherence is the number of tablets many patients have to take. Most patients require a combination of at least two drugs to achieve BP control,5 with approximately 15–20% of patients requiring even triple combination therapy.6 Patients can either take two or more drugs as separate medications only for hypertension, or as a FDC, which is just one single tablet. The evidence presented today demonstrates improved patient adherence with FDC treatments, alongside potential cost-savings, and so should be welcomed by clinicians as an important step towards better hypertension management.
“The convenience of taking one tablet rather than two or three plays a large part in explaining the improved adherence to treatment seen with fixed-dose combination therapies,” said Dr Lorenzo Terranova. “This improved adherence, plus evidence of potential cost savings in a number of European countries, means that there is a strong rationale for using fixed-dose combination therapies I n the right patients,” he added.
For patients moving from two to three compounds to control their hypertension, ease and convenience of changing/increasing their treatment regimen is very important to avoid non-adherence. Daiichi Sankyo’s triple FDC hypertension treatment Sevikar HCT® (olmesartan medoxomil, amlodipine and hydrochlorothiazide) was recently granted a positive opinion by the CHMP for an additional indication in adult patients whose blood pressure is not adequately controlled on the combination of olmesartan medoxomil and amlodipine taken as a dual-component formulation. The new indication allows clinicians the option of prescribing a single pill, fixed-dose triple combination in patients with uncontrolled blood pressure currently on a dual-component combination (olmesartan medoxomil and amlodipine), without the requirement to add a third single-component as an interim stage. This is the first triple combination product for the treatment of hypertension for which this is approved. Individual country approvals of the add-on indication will follow. The new indication is the latest development in Daiichi Sankyo’s long running HypertensionCare portfolio of antihypertensive treatments, which was launched ten years ago with Olmetec®. The portfolio includes Olmetec Plus® and Sevikar®, as well as Sevikar HCT®, which offers dose range flexibility according to the most commonly used doses of each compound (olmesartan medoxomil, amlodipine and hydrochlorothiazide).
As part of the HypertensionCare program, Daiichi Sankyo also recently launched a new European patient website, dedicated to providing information and support on hypertension specifically for patients in Europe (excluding the United Kingdom). The HypertensionCare website, www.hypertensioncare.eu, expands upon a healthcare professional site launched last year by Daiichi Sankyo Europe. The patient website provides the opportunity for physicians to guide their patients to information on high blood pressure which is packaged in an easy to use format and simple, patient-oriented language. The need for such a patient site is supported by 2011 research showing that more than half of physicians across Europe recommend health websites to their patients.7
“The website demonstrates Daiichi Sankyo’s continued commitment to listening to the needs of patients and physicians and offers tools and services that provide them with added support when dealing with their condition,” says Reinhard Bauer, CEO of Daiichi Sankyo Europe.
About Sevikar HCT
Sevikar HCT is a single pill, fixed-dose triple combination of three anti-hypertensive agents indicated for the treatment of patients with hypertension.
olmesartan medoxomil (OLM) – a long-acting selective angiotensin II receptor blocker
amlodipine (AML) – a calcium channel blocker
hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) – a diuretic
Sevikar HCT is licensed in the following European countries:
AT, BE, BG, CZ, DE, DK, EL, ES, FI, FR, HU, IE, IS, LU, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, SI, SK, UK, CH, Taiwan, USA, CY, EE, LT, LV, MT, and individual country approvals of the add-on indication are underway.
About Daiichi Sankyo
The Daiichi Sankyo Group is dedicated to the creation and supply of innovative pharmaceutical products to address the diversified, unmet medical needs of patients in both mature and emerging markets. While maintaining its portfolio of marketed pharmaceuticals for the treatment of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and bacterial infections, the Group is engaged in the development of treatments for thrombotic disorders and focused on the discovery of novel oncology and cardiovascular-metabolic therapies. Furthermore, the Daiichi Sankyo Group has created a “Hybrid Business Model”, which will respond to market and customer diversity and optimize growth opportunities across the value chain.
The company’s world headquarters are in Tokyo. Its European base is located in Munich. Daiichi Sankyo Europe has affiliates in 12 European countries in addition to a global manufacturing site located in Pfaffenhofen, Germany.
For more information, please visit: www.daiichisankyo.com or www.daiichi-sankyo.eu
References
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Estimate based upon data from Sokol MC, McGuigan KA, Verbrugge RR, Epstein RS; Impact of Medication Adherence on Hospitalization Risk and Healthcare Cost, Medical Care, vol. 43, n. 6, June 2005.
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Vrijens et al. BMJ. 2008 May 17;336(7653):1114-7.
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Mazzaglia et al. Circulation 2009; 120:1598-605.
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Lawes et al. Lancet 2008; 371:1513-8.
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Mancia et al. J Hypertens 2009;27:2121-2158.
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Erdine, 2009. Ther Adv Cardiovasc Dis. 2012;6(1):31-44, 2009.
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Manhattan Research, 2011, Taking the Pulse Europe study.
Daiichi Sankyo, 08.06.2012 (tB).