Invida launches beta blocker with dual action for hypertension, heart failure

MANILA, Philippines - Invida Philippines, the local subsidiary of leading Italian research-based pharmaceutical group Menarini, has launched Nebivolol, a highly cardioselective beta blocker that effectively treats hypertension and congestive heart failure (CHF).

“CHF is a serious condition in which the heart can no longer pump enough blood to the body. One of the causes of CHF is uncontrolled hypertension. Aside from causing CHF, uncontrolled hypertension also increases a person’s risk of suffering a heart attack and stroke,” warned Dr. Romeo Divinagracia, founder and past president of the Heart Failure Society of the Philippines (HFSP).

 “We are pleased to provide Filipino patients with a proven effective treatment for both hypertension and CHF,” said Dr. Maaliddin Biruar, director for medical and scientific affairs of Invida Philippines Inc.

Held yesterday at Crowne Plaza Galleria in Quezon City, the Philippine launch of Nebivolol was attended by top local internists and cardiologists.

Addressing growing disease burden

“With the alarming increase in the prevalence of hypertension among Filipinos, the availability of an effective beta blocker like Nebivolol is certainly a welcome development,” said Dr. Dante Morales, president of the Philippine Society of Hypertension.

Citing results of the latest National Nutrition and Health Survey (NNHeS II) conducted in 2008, Morales said one in every four Filipino adults (25.3 percent) had hypertension or a blood pressure (BP) reading equal to or higher than 140/90 millimeter mercury (mmHg).

“NNHeS I conducted in 2003 showed a hypertension prevalence of 17.4 percent. NNHeS II in 2008 revealed a significant increase in the prevalence of hypertension among Filipino adults,” Morales said.

He added that NNHeS II also revealed that 11 in every 100 (10.8 percent) Filipino adults have pre-hypertension or a BP reading in the range of 130-139/85-89 mmHg, with elevated BP increasing with age starting from age 40 to 49.

“The benefits of lowering blood pressure have been unequivocally demonstrated in numerous clinical trials,” Morales said.

He cited results of a meta-analysis presented in the 2003 European Society of Cardiology Guidelines on hypertension management and other published studies in leading heart journals, which showed that effective antihypertensive treatment resulted in a 30 to 42 percent reduction in strokes, 14 to 23 percent reduction in coronary heart disease, 20 to 25 percent reduction in heart attack, over 50 percent reduction in heart failure, and about a 20 percent reduction in cardiovascular mortality.

Because uncontrolled hypertension is a risk factor for the development of congestive heart failure, hypertension treatment reduces a person’s risk of developing the life-threatening disease.

According to Divinagracia, the use of beta blockers in heart failure has been proven to improve ventricular function and patient well-being, reduce hospital admission for worsening heart failure, and increase patient survival.

Nebivolol’s unique mode of action

According to Prof. Andrew Coats, CEO and professor-at-large of Norwich Research Park in the United Kingdom, beta blockers such as nebivolol work by widening (dilating) blood vessels and slowing heart rate to improve blood flow and decrease blood pressure.

“This combined effect reduces blood pressure and makes it easier for the heart to pump blood around the body — both beneficial in hypertension and CHF,” said Coats, who was the keynote speaker during the Nebivolol launch.

A major clinical trial involving 2,135 patients in 10 European countries, the SENIORS study, demonstrated that nebivolol significantly reduces the combined risk of death and cardiovascular hospital admissions in elderly patients with CHF.

“CHF is a major cause of death and disability in elderly patients. The SENIORS study provided important data on the benefits of beta blocker treatment in elderly patients with CHF,” said Coats, who is also one of the study’s principal investigators.

Launched by Menarini in Europe in 1996, the third-generation beta blocker innovator nebivolol has several advantages over older-generation beta blockers.

Older beta blockers slow down heart activity by blocking β1 receptors in the heart muscles; however, they also block the β2 receptors, which cause many of the side effects (e.g. bronchoconstriction) associated with older-generation beta blockers.

The most cardioselective β1 beta blocker, nebivolol selectively blocks β1 receptors, giving it a superior tolerability profile. It also has a nitric oxide-potentiating blood vessel-widening effect (nitric oxide is a potent blood vessel dilator).

Because of its unique mode of action, nebivolol provides patients with better cardiac hemodynamic and metabolic profiles.

“Nebivolol is one of several proven effective medicine in our broad portfolio that will soon be launched in the country. Invida is committed to providing Filipino patients with innovative and affordable treatment options,” said Eleanor Lopez, marketing director of Invida Philippines Inc.