New data on Rasilez in combination with certain BP drugs

Researchers at St Michael's Hospital in Toronto, Canada, have published the first detailed figures showing the risk of using Swiss drug major Novartis’ (NOVN: VX) prescription drug Rasilez (aliskiren), a renin inhibitor licensed for the treatment of essential hypertension, in combination with certain other blood pressure-lowering medications.

Novartis terminated a large, international clinical trial of the drug - dubbed ALTITUDE - last month after finding an increased incidence after 18-24 months of non-fatal strokes, renal complications, high levels of potassium in the blood and low blood pressure (The Pharma Letter December 21, 2011). Since then, the Swiss firm has said it will take a $900 million charge against fourth-quarter 2011 earnings in light of the study (TPL January 13).

Even before Novartis halted its clinical trial, Ziv Harel and other researchers at St Michael's were examining the interaction between Rasilez and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) drugs.