50p Diabetic Pill Could Save Thousands of Lives
An international team of researchers announced on the 2nd September 2007 that, if obese type 2 diabetics in the UK were converted to a certain blood pressure drug, thousands of deaths could theoretically be prevented. The medication in question – Coversyl Plus – costs 50p. In a related trial, it was concluded that those taking the tablet could be considered 18 per cent less likely to be killed by cardiovascular diseases.
Currently, Britain’s population includes 2 million Type 2 diabetic patients. In the main, obesity is the cause. The present 2 million is a figure which many analysts expect to swell in line with health forecasts. If all of these, therefore, were administered Coversyl Plus, 22,500 lives could be saved by 2012 – based on the prescriptions starting with immediate effect.
This is the basis of the researchers’ announcement – which formed part of a presentation made at the yearly meeting of the European Society of Cardiology, held at Vienna.
The trial itself was extensive in scope – taking in 20 countries and involving over 11,000 patients. Ultimately, the results gleaned from all 11,000 were so persuasive that, the researchers concluded, all diabetic patients should be prescribed the drug – regardless of whether they were also hypertensive.
Coronary heart disease eventually kills up to 80 per cent of Type 2 diabetics. In most circumstances, they are prescribed statins in order to reduce cholesterol, in addition to aspirin, plus – in some circumstances – blood pressure drugs as well. Those taking Coversyl Plus were found to have an 18 per cent lower chance of dying as the result of a heart attack. Specifically, the average reading of systolic blood pressure – a measurement of the force generated per individual heartbeat – was 135mm of mercury in the Coversyl patients, but 5mm higher in those given an alternative placebo.
According to Professor MacMahon – the lead researcher involved: "These results have implications for the care of millions of patients”. He continued: “The treatment reduced the likelihood of dying from the complications of diabetes by almost a fifth, with virtually no side effects.”
Prof. MacMahon’s comments were echoed by others. His research partner, Professor John Chalmers, added: "If the benefits seen were applied to just half the population with diabetes worldwide, more than one million deaths would be avoided over five years. There is a case for considering routine treatment with Coversyl Plus for patients with Type 2 diabetes."
Finally, the Blood Pressure Association’s chairman, Professor Graham Macgregor, stated: "This research provides further evidence to suggest that blood pressure treatment should be considered for this group of patients whether or not they have high blood pressure."
Pharmaceutical International will cover further developments in the life of this important drug as we get the facts.
Source – Pharmaceutical International’s Research and Development Analyst
