Daiichi Sankyo gains US FDA approval of Benicar to treat high BP in children and adolescent; names new VP medical affairs

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved Japanese drug major Daiichi Sankyo's antihypertensive Benicar (olmesartan medoxomil) for use in children and adolescents aged six 16 years of age. Benicar was originally approved in 2002 for the treatment of hypertension in adults, and the company has forecast global current year sales of some $900 million for the drug, also sold as Olmetec.

Around 5% - or 3.6 million - American children suffer from high blood pressure, with the majority unaware they have the condition, the company points out. Studies have also found that the average blood pressure of American children is on the rise, in parallel with the increase of children's weight. In fact, an analysis of nearly 40 years of national surveys of high blood pressure trends in children and adolescents showed that the prevalence of elevated blood pressure among this group has been growing since the late 1980s.

"As hypertension is on the rise also in a younger population, Daiichi Sankyo believes it is important to help doctors meet the challenge of treating these pediatric patients by providing a treatment option to help people effectively manage their hypertension," said Reinilde Heyrman, vice president clinical development - operations, at Daiichi Sankyo Pharma Development.