Hypertension rebels voice doubts about ALISKIREN
New York, NY - Doubts about the effectiveness of the new renin inhibitor antihypertensive aliskiren (Tektura, Novartis) have been voiced in a somewhat controversial review article in the May 2007 issue of the American Journal of Hypertension [1].
The authors, Dr John Laragh (editor of the journal) and his wife and fellow hypertension researcher Dr Jean Sealey (New York Hospital/Cornell University Medical Center, New York), say that aliskiren is no more effective than current antihypertensives and suggest that its ability to lower blood pressure may be limited by reactive renin secretion, an effect that may actually increase blood pressure in certain patient groups.
In an interview with heartwire, Laragh said: "We don't have an urgent need for a new drug like this. It is not a breakthrough. It is a weak antihypertensive drug. It is no better than what we already have, and it will be much more expensive. In addition, aliskiren causes a greater reactive rise in renin production than any other antihypertensive, which could be dangerous for patients with the most highly reactive renin systems."
Laragh and Sealey are no strangers to controversy, having been at the center of a bitter row with the American Society of Hypertension (ASH), which resulted in the American Journal of Hypertension no longer being the official journal of ASH and the end of Laragh's and Sealey's involvement with ASH.
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