Polypill trial starts

Published: 2010-08-06

In 2003 a combination tablet was proposed to prevent heart disease, recommended for use by anyone over the age of 55, or with existing high blood pressure, heart disease or diabetes. Indian company Dr. Reddy’s has started testing two versions of the tablet worldwide, hoping to recruit some 7,000 patients in 10 countries.

The primary endpoint is adherence to a preventive treatment regime, comprising a single, once-daily polypill, or patients’ usual individual cardiovascular medicines. The researchers will also examine efficacy at lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
The tablet comes in two versions. One contains aspirin 75 mg, simvastatin 40 mg, lisinopril 10 mg and atenolol 50 mg, and is intended for patients with a history of ischaemic heart disease (IHD). The other version, which is for participants without IHD or those with a history of stroke or cerebrovascular disease, has hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg substituted for atenolol. The trial aims to report in 2013.