Firm Unveils New Drug to Tackle Heart Diseases

Sandoz, a global generics company a significant part of the Novartis group, has unveiled a new drug targeted at managing heart failure and controlling blood pressure.

Novartris unveiled the ‘Candesartan Sandoz’ drug recently in Lagos, with the aim of allowing millions access afford medications without compromising product quality at a much reduced cost.

Speaking at the launch, the Country Head, Novartis, Mr. Adepeju Idowu said: “We are introducing Candesartan Sandoz to address the unmet need in the management of cardiovascular disease particularly Hypertension, Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and the Heart failure. Sandoz, as at today is the number two biggest generic business in the world worth more than $10 billion. And we are committed to bring out quality medications.”

He also added that treatment with Candesartan reduces mortality and hospitalisation due to heart failure and improves symptoms in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Speaking also on heart failure being on the increase amongst Nigerian patients, Consultant Physician and Cardiologist Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Dr. A.C. Mbakwem, said the drug would be beneficial at reducing deaths resulting from heart failures.

She added: “Data coming from industrialized world have shown that the mid age for heart failure is around 65 years. For them heart failure is a disease for the elderly but for us it is a disease for the middle age population from 49-5, when people are in the pick of their careers and responsibilities. This has become such a big problem.”

She also said studies had shown that most patients with heart diseases were mostly self-employed and low income earners. She further said: “We also looked at deaths in our emerged room what took the major trunk of death was heart failure. It contributed about 40 per cent of those who would come in to emergency room and die within 48 hours which often start from hypertension.”