Now it's head-to-head

In 2007, Pharmacopeia Inc. put its first internal compound into the clinic for hypertension based on the hypothesis that simultaneously targeting angiotensin and endothelin receptors with a single molecule would have a synergistic effect. The company got its proof of concept last week, reporting Phase IIa data showing PS433540 significantly improved both ambulatory and seated blood pressure in patients with mild to moderate hypertension.

The next task will be to compare the dual-acting angiotensin and endothelin receptor antagonist (DARA) with marketed drugs. It has already started, with a Phase IIb study that is comparing PS433540 head-to-head with Avapro irbesartan, an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) from sanofi-aventis Group and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co...