More than blood pressure

Novartis AG thinks its oral Aliskiren renin inhibitor for hypertension may provide a morbidity/mortality benefit that other drugs have failed to show, including angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). But proof of such a benefit will be a long time coming, as the company plans to submit marketing applications based on Aliskiren's ability to lower blood pressure. Thus the initial marketing message will be similar to that of other antihypertensives.

Recently reported Phase IIb/III data showed Aliskiren, the closest renin inhibitor to market, effectively lowered blood pressure both as monotherapy and in combination with the pharma company's Diovan valsartan ACE inhibitor...