Micardis (telmisartan) has received Health Canada approval to reduce the risk of non-fatal stroke or non-fatal myocardial infarction in patients 55 years or older, at high risk of developing major cardiovascular events who cannot tolerate an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor.
Telmisartan was discovered and developed by Boehringer Ingelheim. Under the trademarks Micardis and Micardis Plus (combination with hydrochlorothiazide), the company markets it in 84 countries around the world, including the US, Japan and European countries.
High risk of cardiovascular events includes evidence of coronary artery disease, peripheral arterial disease, stroke, transient ischemic attack, or diabetes mellitus with evidence of end-organ damage. This new approval makes Micardis the first and only angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) in Canada to receive this indication.
Micardis is a modern member of the angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) class and has a proven history of controlling hypertension for Canadians. In addition to risk reduction of cardiovascular morbidity, Micardis is proven to provide powerful 24-hour blood pressure control, and has a superior side-effect profile, excellent tolerability and better compliance when compared to ramipril, claims the company.
It is one of the most studied antihypertensives in clinical trials and is widely used with more than five million patient years since its approval. Its safety profile is similar to that of placebo.
Subodh Verma, cardiac surgeon at St. Michael’s Hospital, associate professor of Surgery and Pharmacology at University of Toronto and Canada Research Chair in Atherosclerosis, said: “The new Micardis indication provides physicians an alternative to ACE inhibitors for their high-risk patients who cannot tolerate the most commonly prescribed CV protective medication.”
Up to 44 % of the patients suffer from side effects caused by ACE inhibitors, such as intolerable dry cough. Now there is a proven option that reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke, and will help patients stay on their medication as it does not cause those challenging side effects.”