MEDIA RELEASE PR35766
New Results in Angina Patients: Fewer Heart Attacks With Procoralan(R) (ivabradine)*
BARCELONA, Aug. 31 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --
Important new findings in patients with angina participating in the
BEAUTIFUL study show that there is a 42% reduction in heart attack with
Procoralan(R) (ivabradine)*, as presented today at the European Society of
Cardiology (ESC) Congress. This benefit was particularly marked in patients
with a resting heart rate (greater than or equal to) 70 beats per minute
(bpm), where Procoralan cut the risk of hospitalisation for heart attack by
nearly three quarters and the rate of coronary revascularisation by more
than half.
These findings set Procoralan apart as an antianginal agent documented to
be able to reduce major cardiovascular events in angina patients. "Procoralan
is already known to relieve angina. These new results demonstrated that it
may also prevent cardiovascular events," said Professor Tendera, Medical
University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
These impressive efficacy results stem from a subgroup analysis of
patients in the BEAUTIFUL study with limiting angina. Angina is the most
common manifestation of coronary artery disease (CAD) and can have a profound
impact on patients' quality of life, as well as adversely affecting
prognosis. In this analysis, Procoralan reduced the primary endpoint - a
combination of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction (MI) and heart
failure - in all angina patients by 24% with an improvement on all
parameters. Hospitalisations for fatal or non-fatal MI were also reduced by
42% with Procoralan. This benefit was even more striking in angina patients
with a heart rate (greater than or equal to) 70 bpm, where the risk of MI
was cut by 73%. The need for coronary revascularisation was also reduced
with Procoralan treatment, decreasing by 30% in all angina patients and 59%
in those with a heart rate (greater than or equal to) 70 bpm.
A total of 1,507 patients with angina were included in this BEAUTIFUL
subgroup analysis and half of them had a heart rate more than 70 bpm at
baseline. Nearly all patients were receiving conventional treatment aimed at
protecting against cardiovascular events, with approximately 9 out of every
10 patients on beta-blockers.
Previously released results from the BEAUTIFUL study have already shown
in 10,917 patients with CAD and associated left ventricular dysfunction, that
Procoralan reduces both fatal and non-fatal heart attack by 36% (P=0.001) and
need for revascularisation by 30% (P=0.016) in coronary patients with a heart
rate higher than 70 bpm.(1)
Angina is a presenting symptom in half of all coronary patients and the
presence of angina can adversely affect their prognosis. Procoralan is one of
the most important advances in stable angina treatment in the last two
decades. The antianginal and anti-ischaemic efficacy of Procoralan has been
very well documented in monotherapy(2) and in combination with beta-blocker.
In angina patients already receiving beta-blockers, the addition of
Procoralan significantly prolongs total exercise duration.(3) "These new
results on the prevention of cardiovascular events with Procoralan in angina
patients, further reinforce the place of Procoralan as a step further in the
management of angina patients," commented Professor K. Fox, Co-Chairman of
the BEAUTIFUL Executive Committee study.
The study is funded by Servier, France's leading independent
pharmaceutical company.
*Depending on the country, ivabradine is available as Procoralan(R), Coralan(R),
Coraxan(R), or Corlentor(R).
Notes to editors
Coronary artery disease (CAD)
Coronary artery disease, also known as ischaemic heart disease, is the
most common type of heart disease. CAD is the leading cause of death
worldwide and is predicted to remain so for the next 20 years.(4)
approximately 3.8 million men and 3.4 million women die from CAD each
year,(5) and in 2020, it is estimated that this disease will be responsible
for a total of 11.1 million deaths globally.(4)
CAD could remain undetected for years and can manifest suddenly as an
acute heart attack. Although CAD might be a silent disease, in the majority
of patients it is symptomatic. It causes angina - chest pain evoked by
exercise and other factors, and may lead to heart failure, placing a huge
impact on quality of life. Despite lifestyle modifications and advances in
the medical management, CAD remains a global health problem and there is a
need for new and effective preventative treatments.
References
(1) Fox K, Ford I, Steg P G et al. Ivabradine for patients with stable
coronary artery disease and left ventricular dysfunction (Beautiful): a
randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet 2008, 372,
807-816.
(2) Tardif J-C, Ford I, Tendera M, et al. Efficacy of ivabradine, a new
selective If inhibitor, compared with atenolol in patients with chronic
stable angina. Eur Heart J. 2005 ; 26 : 2529-36.
(3) Tardif JC, Ponikowski P, Kahan T; ASSOCIATE study investigators.
Efficacy of the If current inhibitor ivabradine in patients with chronic
stable angina receiving beta blocker therapy: a 4 month, randomized,
placebo-controlled trial. Eur Heart J. 2009;30:540-548.
(4) Mathers CD, Loncar D. Projections of global mortality and
burden of disease from 2002 to 2030. PLoS Med. 2006 Nov;3:e442.
(5) WHO. The global burden of disease: 2004 update. Available at:
/index.html.
SOURCE: Servier
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