LONDON (AFX) - Astrazeneca PLC said new data has found its Atacand therapy can reduce the risk of diabetes in heart failure patients.
Data from placebo controlled studies which was published in Circulation found a reduction in the new onset of diabetes mellitus in Atacand treated patients.
The patients in the study suffered from varying degrees of heart failure and body mass index.
During the study period, 6 pct of patients in the candesartan group were newly diagnosed with diabetes, compared to 7.4 pct in the placebo group.
The study found the composite endpoint of new diabetes diagnosis or death occurred in 25.2 pct of patients in the active treatment group, compared to 28.6 pct in the placebo group.
Consistent reduction rates of new onset of diabetes were observed in patient groups across varying severities of heart failure symptoms and with concomitant drugs such as beta-blockers or diuretics for the treatment of heart failure, the company said.
Professor Salim Yusuf, the lead investigator of McMaster University in Canada said: This finding that candesartan may prevent the development of diabetes in some patients could have important future implications for the treatment of certain patient populations, such as those with hypertension, previous myocardial infarction and heart failure, in whom such treatments have already been shown to reduce major vascular events.
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Data from placebo controlled studies which was published in Circulation found a reduction in the new onset of diabetes mellitus in Atacand treated patients.
The patients in the study suffered from varying degrees of heart failure and body mass index.
During the study period, 6 pct of patients in the candesartan group were newly diagnosed with diabetes, compared to 7.4 pct in the placebo group.
The study found the composite endpoint of new diabetes diagnosis or death occurred in 25.2 pct of patients in the active treatment group, compared to 28.6 pct in the placebo group.
Consistent reduction rates of new onset of diabetes were observed in patient groups across varying severities of heart failure symptoms and with concomitant drugs such as beta-blockers or diuretics for the treatment of heart failure, the company said.
Professor Salim Yusuf, the lead investigator of McMaster University in Canada said: This finding that candesartan may prevent the development of diabetes in some patients could have important future implications for the treatment of certain patient populations, such as those with hypertension, previous myocardial infarction and heart failure, in whom such treatments have already been shown to reduce major vascular events.
newsdesk@afxnews.com
ec
COPYRIGHT
Copyright AFX News Limited 2005. All rights reserved.
The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News.
AFX News and the AFX Financial News logo are registered trademarks of AFX News Limited
For more information and to contact AFX: www.afxnews.com and www.afxpress.com
© 2005 AFX News
