CardioExchange Archive

October 20th, 2011

EMA’s CHMP Finds No Cancer Link for ARBs

Larry Husten, PHD

Following the lead of the FDA earlier this year, the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has completed a safety review of angiotensin II receptor antagonists (ARBs) and found no evidence of any increased risk of cancer associated with the drugs. The FDA and EMA safety reviews were initially prompted by a meta-analysis […]

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June 2nd, 2011

FDA: ARBs Don’t Increase Risk of Cancer

Larry Husten, PHD

Concluding a nearly one-year safety review, the FDA has announced that angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) do not increase the risk of cancer. The FDA initiated the review after a meta-analysis published in Lancet Oncology found a small but statistically significant increase in the risk of cancer among people taking ARBs. The FDA meta-analysis included 31 […]

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April 27th, 2011

Large Meta-Analysis Finds No Link Between ARBs and MI Risk

Larry Husten, PHD

Angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) don’t increase the risk for MI, according to a large new meta-analysis published in BMJ. Concerns about ARBs and MI have lingered since the VALUE trial in 2004 found a 19% increase in the risk for MI, though subsequent trials have not reinforced the finding. Sripal Bangalore and colleagues combined data from 37 […]

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March 10th, 2011

Olmesartan Helps Prevent Microalbuminuria, But a Troubling Question Persists

Larry Husten, PHD

Olmesartan can help prevent progression to microalbuminuria in type 2 diabetics, according to results of the ROADMAP (Randomized Olmesartan and Diabetes Microalbuminuria Prevention) trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine. But the positive result was partially offset by the troubling finding of a small but significant increase in fatal cardiovascular events. Type 2 diabetics […]

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March 9th, 2011

ACTIVE I Examines Role for Irbesartan in AF Patients

Larry Husten, PHD

The angiotensin-receptor blocker irbesartan does not significantly reduce cardiovascular events in patients with atrial fibrillation, according to the results of the Atrial Fibrillation Clopidogrel Trial with Irbesartan for Prevention of Vascular Events (ACTIVE I), published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Participants had been previously randomized in the ACTIVE A trial or the ACTIVE W trial. More than 9,000 […]

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February 25th, 2011

FDA Approves Azilsartan Medoxomil (Edarbi) for High Blood Pressure

Larry Husten, PHD

The FDA has approved azilsartan medoxomil (Edarbi, Takeda) for the treatment of high blood pressure. The new angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) will be available in 80 mg and 40 mg doses. The recommended dose is 80 mg once daily. The 40 mg dose is used in combination with a diuretic. The FDA said that, in clinical studies, […]

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January 11th, 2011

Candesartan Beats Losartan in Swedish HF Registry

Larry Husten, PHD

The Swedish Heart Failure Registry followed more than 5,000 patients treated with the angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) candesartan or losartan between 2000 and 2009. According to a paper published in JAMA, survival at one year was 90% in the candesartan group compared to 83% in the losartan group. Five-year survival was 61% and 44%. […]

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