CardioExchange Archive

September 23rd, 2013

Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: September 23rd

Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP

This week’s topics include a randomized trial of preventive angioplasty in MI, aliskiren in patients with prehypertension, and otamixaban and ischemic events in NSTE-ACS.

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March 25th, 2013

Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: March 25th

Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP

This week’s topics include the effect of aliskiren on postdischarge mortality and readmissions among those hospitalized for HF, PFO closure, and more.

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December 10th, 2012

Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: December 10th

Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP

This week’s topics include a comparison of warfarin and new oral anticoagulants for managing AF and VTE, two studies of a monoclonal antibody to PCSK9 in patients with hypercholesterolemia, and more.

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November 3rd, 2012

ALTITUDE Autopsy Shows What Went Wrong With Aliskiren

Larry Husten, PHD

In its short lifespan the direct renin inhibitor aliskiren (a.k.a., Rasilez or Tekturna) rapidly declined from being a highly promising, first-of-its kind drug to a major failure. The death blow was struck last December with the early termination of the ALTITUDE trial, after the data and safety monitoring committee found an increased risk in patients taking aliskiren. Now the final results […]

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August 26th, 2012

First Detailed Look At Why Aliskiren Failed To Gain ALTITUDE

Larry Husten, PHD

This once-promising renin inhibitor was no better than placebo when it came to the composite outcome, but showed worrisome trends, especially when it came to stroke.

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April 20th, 2012

Aliskiren (Tekturna) Gets New Warning and Contraindication from FDA

Larry Husten, PHD

The FDA has issued new warnings about antihypertensive drugs containing the direct renin inhibitor aliskiren (including Tekturna, Amturnide, Takamio, and Valturna) when used in combination with ACE inhibitors or angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs). The FDA now states that these drug combinations are contraindicated in patients with diabetes, and it is adding a new warning to avoid […]

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December 20th, 2011

ALTITUDE Study of Aliskiren Terminated Early by Novartis

Larry Husten, PHD

Novartis announced today the early termination of the ALTITUDE trial, which was testing the effect of the direct renin inhibitor aliskiren (Tekturna, Rasilez) in patients with type 2 diabetes and renal impairment at high risk for cardiovascular and renal events. The action was based on the recommendation of the independent Data Monitoring Committee, after it found […]

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January 14th, 2011

Combination Therapy Beats Single Therapy As Initial Antihypertensive Therapy

Larry Husten, PHD

In the ACCELERATE (Aliskiren and the calcium channel blocker amlopdipine combination as an initial treatment strategy for hypertension control) trial, more than 1200 patients with early essential hypertension were randomized to either aliskiren, amlodipine, or the combination of the two drugs for 4 months. The results, which have been published online in the Lancet, showed […]

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