Novartis launches Entresto heart failure drug in UK

The European Commission (EC) approved Entresto in November 2015 to treat adult patients with symptomatic chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HfrEF).

Entresto performs the mechanism of action of an angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor that lowers the strain on the failing heart.

The drug is a twice a day tablet, which is believed to improve the protective neurohormonal systems of the heart and suppress the harmful system.

A global study of 8,442 patients who took Entresto found that the drug reduced death rates by 20% when compared with enalapril ACE-inhibitor.

Heart failure hospitalisations and all-cause mortality were reduced by 21% and 16%, respectively.

The drug has already been given to some patients via the UK’s Early Access to Medicines Scheme. It has secured early support from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK chief scientific officer Dimitrios Georgiopoulos said: "Despite use of current treatments and availability of clinical guidelines, 40% of patients die within a year of first hospital admission for heart failure and survival rates are worse than certain types of cancer, such as breast and prostate.

"In an area of high unmet need, sacubitril/valsartan gives doctors a new option that can potentially improve the outcomes of many of their heart failure patients."

Heart failure affects nearly 550,000 people in the UK and costs the the National Health Service about £2.3bn per year.

Image: Novartis headquarters in Basel. Photo: courtesy of –Andrew- from Flickr.