Why Telmisartan?

Hypertension is a proven risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Data show that the risk of cardiovascular events is highest in the early morning hours when the blood pressure surges and that protecting patients against this early morning rise in blood pressure is of great benefit.^1-3

Telmisartan was chosen for The ONTARGET^® Trial Programme because it is a powerful angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) with proven 24-hour efficacy and placebo-like tolerability.^4-7

Telmisartan has been shown to provide superior blood pressure reduction compared to the ARBs losartan and valsartan^5-6,8 and has been shown to achieve blood pressure targets at least as effectively as other antihypertensive classes, including the ACE inhibitors enalapril,⁹ ramipril^10,11 and lisinopril,¹² the calcium channel blocker amlodipine⁴ or the beta-blocker atenolol.¹³

Importantly, data suggest that telmisartan may have additional cardioprotective properties beyond blood pressure reduction, a hypothesis that the ONTARGET^® study is testing.

Clinically, telmisartan has also shown efficacy in vascular remodelling, endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis, left-ventricular hypertrophy, cardiac dysfunction, kidney damage and metabolic abnormalities, providing further evidence for potential cardiovascular protection.

Compared with other ARBs, telmisartan has:

• A novel structure resulting in potent, insurmountable and highly selective angiotensin II type 1 (AT₁) receptor antagonism
• A 24-hour plasma half-life, the longest of any ARB, contributing to superior 24-hour blood pressure control compared with other ARBs
• High tissue penetration resulting from the largest volume of distribution of any ARB. This ensures complete blockade of both the local and systemic RAS
• Selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-g (PPARg) activity than any other ARB, conferring the potential to improve insulin sensitivity, reduce triglyceride levels and decrease the risk for atherosclerosis.

References