Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety of Fixed-dose S-Amlodipine/Telmisartan and Telmisartan in Hypertensive Patients Inadequately Controlled with Telmisartan: A Randomized, Double-blind, Multicenter Study.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the fixed-dose combination S-amlodipine plus telmisartan (S-AM/TEL) compared with TEL monotherapy in patients with hypertension inadequately controlled by TEL monotherapy. METHODS: this study was a randomized, multicenter, double-blind, parallel group, Phase III, 8-week clinical trial to compare the superiority of the S-AM/TEL 2.5/40-mg and S-AM/TEL 5/40-mg combinations with TEL 80-mg mono-therapy. The primary end point was the change in the mean sitting diastolic blood pressure from baseline (week 0) after 8 weeks of therapy between treatment groups. FINDINGS: Of 325 patients screened, 183 were randomly assigned to 3 groups (61 in the S-AM/TEL 2.5/40-mg group, 60 in the S-AM/TEL 5/40-mg group, and 62 in the TEL 80-mg group). Mean (SD) age was 53.9 (7.5) years, and male patients comprised 87%. No significant differences were found among the 3 groups in baseline characteristics. The primary end points, the changes of mean (SD) diastolic blood pressure at week 8 from the baseline were -10.56 (7.23) mm Hg in the S-AM/TEL 2.5/40-mg group, -12.32 (9.23) mm Hg in the S-AM/TEL 5/40-mg group, and -2.44 (7.92) mm Hg in the TEL 80-mg group. Both the S-AM/TEL 2.5/40-mg group and the S-AM/TEL 5/40-mg group had a statistically superior hypotensive effect compared with the TEL 80-mg group (P < 0.0001 for both). For evaluation of the safety profile, the frequencies of adverse events (AEs) among the groups were also not significantly different (S-AM/TEL 2.5/40-mg group, 18.6%; S-AM/TEL 5/40-mg group, 20%; and TEL 80-mg group, 22.6%), and the incidences of AEs were not different among the groups. The most common AEs were respiratory disorders, followed by headache, dizziness, and peripheral edema. IMPLICATIONS: Treatment with S-AM/TEL 2.5/40 mg and S-AM/TEL 5/40 mg was superior to increasing the TEL dose in terms of hypotensive effect in patients with hypertension inadequately controlled by TEL monotherapy. S-AM/TEL fixed-dose combinations are an effective and tolerable option for patients inadequately responding to TEL monotherapy and also a good option for improving patients' medication adherence. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT011426100.

Blood Pressure and Cholesterol-lowering Efficacy of a Fixed-dose Combination With Irbesartan and Atorvastatin in Patients With Hypertension and Hypercholesterolemia: A Randomized, Double-blind, Factorial, Multicenter Phase III Study.

PURPOSE: A fixed-dose combination of a stain and an antihypertensive drug may be useful for the treatment of patients with hypertension and hyperlipidemia. It may also improve patient drug compliance to help control risk factors of cardiovascular disease. This study was designed to evaluate the blood pressure-lowering and cholesterol-lowering effect of a fixed-dose combination of irbesartan-atorvastatin compared with monotherapy by either agent over an 8-week treatment period. METHODS: Patients with comorbid hypertension and hypercholesterolemia were screened for this randomized, double-blind, Phase III study. Eligible study patients were randomly assigned to test groups receiving a combination of irbesartan 300 mg and atorvastatin 40 mg or 80 mg (IRB300 + ATO40 and IRB300 + ATO80). Comparator groups comprised monotherapy groups with irbesartan 300 mg (IRB300) or atorvastatin 40 mg (ATO40) or atorvastatin 80 mg (ATO80), or placebo. Patients who were eligible at screening were subjected to a 4- to 6-week washout period before commencing 8 weeks of therapy per their assigned group. The primary efficacy end points were percent change in LDL-C and sitting diastolic blood pressure (DBP) levels from baseline to end of therapy. Tolerability profiles of combination therapy were compared with other groups. FINDINGS: A total of 733 patients with comorbid hypertension and hypercholesterolemia were screened for this study; 230 eligible patients were randomized to treatment. The mean age of patients was 58.9 (8.5) years, and their mean body mass index was 25.8 (3.2) kg/m2. More than two thirds (70.9%) of the study patients were male. Mean LDL-C and sitting DBP levels at baseline were 149.54 (29.19) mg/dL and 92.32 (6.03) mm Hg, respectively. Percent reductions in LDL-C after 8 weeks were 46.74% (2.06%) in the IRB300 + ATO40 group and 48.98% (2.12%) in the IRB300 + ATO80 group; these values were 47.13% (3.21%) and 48.30% (2.98%) in the ATO40 and ATO80 comparator groups. Similarly, a reduction in sitting DBP after 8 weeks was -8.50 (1.06) mm Hg in the IRB300 + ATO40 group and 10.66 (1.08) mm Hg in the IRB300 + ATO80 group compared with 8.40 (1.65) mm Hg in the IRB300 group. The incidence rate for treatment-emergent adverse events was 22.27% and was similar between the monotherapy and combination groups. IMPLICATIONS: A once-daily combination product of irbesartan and atorvastatin provided an effective, safe, and more compliable treatment for patients with coexisting hypertension and hyperlipidemia. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01442987.