Novartis has received the approval for Rasilez (aliskiren), a high blood pressure medicine, for use in Japan. Rasilez directly inhibits renin, an enzyme that triggers a process leading to high blood pressure and organ damage.
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) in Japan has approved Rasilez for the treatment of high blood pressure, alone or in combination with other high blood pressure medicines.
The potential long-term benefits of Rasilez are currently being investigated further in the ASPIRE HIGHER program, involving more than 35,000 patients in 14 trials.
Trevor Mundel, Global Head of Development at Novartis, said: We are very excited about the approval in Japan, which provides Japanese patients access to this innovative high blood pressure treatment that directly targets rennin.
Rasilez is approved in over 70 countries. Tekturna was approved in the US in March 2007 and in the European Union in August 2007, under the trade name – Rasilez.