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Sevikar HCT

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22 November 2011

Sevikar HCT®▼ combines three treatments in one reducing the number of tablets patients take to manage high blood pressure

Today Daiichi Sankyo UK announces that it has launched Sevikar HCT, the first three-in-one pill in the UK to treat high blood pressure.[1] This condition affects around 8.5 million people in the UK.[2] High blood pressure, or hypertension, is known as the 'silent killer' as it rarely has obvious symptoms.[3] Left untreated or uncontrolled, it is the biggest cause of stroke.[4]

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:

http://www.multivu.com/pages/52788-daiichi-sankyo

Almost 2 million people in the UK take three or more pills for their high blood pressure,[2] however up to 80% of patients don't take their medication as directed by their doctor,[5] or end up throwing them away. Blood pressure control is much easier to achieve when patients take their medication as directed.[6] As Sevikar HCT is one single pill, this reduces the number of pills that patients with high blood pressure need to take.

"High blood pressure is the biggest risk factor for stroke and in fact 40% of all strokes could be avoided if more people took steps to control their blood pressure through healthy lifestyle changes or medication," says Dr Sharlin Ahmed Research Liaison Officer at The Stroke Association. "Many people with high blood pressure are required to take multiple pills every day to reduce their blood pressure and therefore reduce their risk of stroke, but calculating when each pill needs to be taken can often be confusing. Combining the pills into one could make taking the medication much simpler. However, it's important to note that this pill might not be suitable for everyone and it may have side effects so every patient should be assessed and treated on an individual basis."

Stroke affects one person every five minutes and is the third most common cause of death in the UK.[7] Stroke costs the NHS an estimated £2.8 billion each year and the cost to the English economy is an estimated £7 billion.[8] It is estimated that improving medication compliance may have a greater impact on clinical health outcomes than improved treatments, a Cochrane review concluded.[9]

Sevikar HCT is available in five, tailored doses ensuring that patients can be prescribed the combination that is right for them.[1