Improving survival of high-risk heart patients

The greatest concern for high-risk heart patients is that their long-term survival may be significantly compromised.

Two of the world’s highly respected research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies have pooled their resources to sponsor what is believed to be the largest landmark cardiovascular protection trial of this decade which is expected to answer some questions on how to optimize cardiac care for patients at high risk and improve their long-term survival.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has joined forces with Boehringer Ingelheim (BI) to co-sponsor the Ongoing Telmisartan Alone and in combination with Ramipril Global Endpoint Trial (ONTARGET) Program, the world’s largest ever cardiovascular protection trial using an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB).

The trial, which will enroll over 29,000 patients, will examine the preventive effects of telmisartan, either alone or in combination with the ACE inhibitor ramipril, on stroke, heart attack, cardiovascular death and hospitalization due to congestive heart failure.

This is also one of a few landmark international trials where Filipino patients are included.

"So, we can really confidently apply the findings of this trial to our local patients," says Dr. Dante Morales, president of the Philippine Lipid Society and one of the Filipino research investigators invited to participate in the trial.

The ONTARGET Trial Program includes Telmisartan Randomized Assessment Study in ACE-I Intolerant Subjects with Cardiovascular Disease (TRANSCEND), a smaller sub-study which aims to determine if telmisartan is effective in reducing the risks of cardiovascular disease compared to placebo (dummy pills) treatment.

It will also establish whether or not cardiovascular outcomes can be improved in patients intolerant mostly of the side-effects of ACE inhibitors.

The results of the ONTARGET Trial Program are seen to improve the current treatment guidelines used to treat hypertension and will help physicians and patients achieve optimal hypertension management.

Co-sponsorship of the ONTARGET Trial Program reflects a growing commitment by GSK to the study of CVD. It is committed to improving the quality of human life by providing scientifically proven effective medicines.

GSK has a diverse portfolio of medicines targeted at reducing the multiple risk factors associated with CVD. This includes telmisartan, lacidipine, rosiglitazone and a number of compounds in development.

Boehringer Ingelheim is the main sponsor of the ONTARGET Trial Program.