TWYNSTA™ For Controlling Hypertension Approved By Health Canada

Health Canada has approved TWYNSTA™ (telmisartan and amlodipine) for the treatment of mild to moderate essential hypertension (when the cause of high blood pressure is unknown) in individuals who are suitable for combination treatments. The single pill treatment for effective blood pressure control combines two medications, amlodipine (dihydropyridinic calcium channel blocker, or long-acting CCB) and telmisartan (an angiotensin II receptor antagonist or ARB) making this treatment the first and only of its kind.

In Canada, over one in five adults have hypertension. Clinical investigations revealed that two-thirds of individuals with hypertension needed two or more antihypertensives in order to reach their blood pressure targets. Studies also revealed that two-thirds of patients have been prescribed at least two drugs, and that one-third of patients with hypertension remained uncontrolled even with medication.

In Canada, uncontrolled hypertension is a crucial risk factor for stroke, cardiovascular disease, renal disease and death. The 2011 Canadian Hypertension Education Program (CHEP) addresses this issue in their guidelines, which recommend that further antihypertensive medications should be used if an individual’s target blood pressure levels are not reached with monotherapy.

Investigations reveal that the new single pill treatment provides 24-hour blood pressure control, with most of the antihypertensive effects being reached within two weeks of beginning treatment. Amlodipine and telmisartan both lower blood pressure by reducing peripheral resistance, but in different ways. These drugs combined have an additive antihypertensive effect, and reduce blood pressure more than monotherapy alone.

Dr. George Honos, Head, Division of Cardiology and Professor at the University of Montreal, explains:

“I’m very excited about the availability of TWYNSTA™ as a new tool to help better managed my patients with hypertension. I believe it will provide Canadian physicians with an optimal combination of a proven ARB, telmisartan, and a world-leading antihypertensive, amlodipine, addressing some important barriers that we have in the management of hypertension, including lowering the blood pressure to target, and encouraging patient adherence.”

Non-adherence to hypertension treatment is one the largest challenges to achieving blood pressure control, according to Dr. Honos, who continues:

“The CHEP recommendations state that fixed dose combination medications should be prescribed, whenever possible, in order to improve patient adherence. Moreover, clinical trials have shown that it matters how we lower blood pressure, beyond getting the numbers down to target values. TWYNSTA™ will allow physicians to cut down on the number of pills a hypertensive patient needs to take, while improving blood pressure control.”