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Diovan the first blood pressure medication in a large-scale clinical trial to lower C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation

23 May 2006 - Diovan® (valsartan) lowered the level of the inflammatory marker high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), independently of its established efficacy in lowering blood pressure, according to a study by Novartis.
 
The study also showed that Diovan and Co-Diovan, including two new high doses recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), helped a significant number of hard-to-treat patients with moderate to severe high blood pressure quickly achieve blood pressure goals in as little as two weeks.
 
"Increased hsCRP levels are commonly found in those patients at increased risk for cardiovascular events," said Dr. Paul Ridker, MD, MPH, Eugene Braunwald Professor of Medicine at the Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital and lead investigator of the Val-MARC trial (Valsartan-Managing blood pressure Aggressively and evaluating Reductions in hsCRP). "Until now, statins were among only a few medicines known to lower hsCRP. This study showed that treating high blood pressure with valsartan can also reduce levels of this important inflammatory marker."
 
These new findings are from Val-MARC, a large randomized clinical trial conducted in a diverse range of moderate to severe high blood pressure patients. According to Novartis, Val-MARC is the largest study to investigate whether a blood pressure medication can also lower hsCRP.
 
In Val-MARC, the reductions in hsCRP levels observed with Diovan were preserved in all subgroups in the trial, including those patients who were taking statins. There was no consistent effect observed with Co-Diovan on levels of hsCRP. Val-MARC also demonstrated that Co-Diovan, including two new higher strengths recently approved by the FDA, produced double-digit blood pressure reductions. These reductions are consistent with other data at ASH 2006 that formed the basis of the recent FDA approval.