New Drug Makes Strides in Heart Failure Treatment, Study Says

[Bob0627]

Researchers announced on Saturday an experimental drug that significantly reduces the negative effects of heart failure. Some are calling it "one of the biggest potential advances" against the disease in more than 10 years.

Currently called LCZ696, the drug is being developed by Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis, according to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine. A release from Novartis suggested that LCZ696 cut the risk of death and hospitalization from heart failure by a fifth, and measurably improved patients' quality of life.

"By demonstrating a very significant reduction in cardiovascular deaths while improving quality of life, Novartis' new heart failure medicine, LCZ696, represents one of the most important cardiology advances of the last decade," David Epstein, division head of Novartis said in a release.

LCZ696 is a twice-a-day pill that combines two active medications that work to block negative substances that harm heart function, and enable substances that enhance it, according to the release. The pill also reportedly dilates the heart's blood vessels, improving its ability to pump blood to the body.

New Drug Makes Strides in Heart Failure Treatment, Study Says

 

[CanadaJohn]

Excellent news.

Bonus - maybe Dick Cheney will live forever and frustrate liberals without end!!

 

[lizzie]

I'm just waiting to hear the law firm ads on tv, 5 years from now, "If you, or anyone you love, has been the victim of coronary complications, while taking the drug, LCZ696, please call the law offices of Swindler and Swindler. You may be entitled to a large cash benefit".........

 

[longview]

Where it said

The pill also reportedly dilates the heart's blood vessels, improving its ability to pump blood to the body.

I was thinking that sounds like what baby aspirin does, did they find a way to sell aspirin at a much higher price?
Seriously, if it helps it could save many lives.

 

[Threegoofs]

I worked on a similar compound about a decade ago. It flamed out after about a billion dollars of development- in rare cases, it killed people by causing an allergic reaction that closed up their throats.

But this data in heart failure looks pretty promising. I bet it's BP effects are even more promising.

 

[Threegoofs]

Where it said
I was thinking that sounds like what baby aspirin does, did they find a way to sell aspirin at a much higher price?
Seriously, if it helps it could save many lives.

Not even close. ASA doesn't work as a vasodilator.

It's actually an existing drug that blocks angiotensin combined with one that inhibits neutral endopeptidase, or neprilysn, and that allows a few different natural vasodilators to increase concentration in the blood.

 

[longview]

Not even close. ASA doesn't work as a vasodilator.

It's actually an existing drug that blocks angiotensin combined with one that inhibits neutral endopeptidase, or neprilysn, and that allows a few different natural vasodilators to increase concentration in the blood.

It was sarcasm, learn to recognize it.

 

[Dittohead not!]

I'm just waiting to hear the law firm ads on tv, 5 years from now, "If you, or anyone you love, has been the victim of coronary complications, while taking the drug, LCZ696, please call the law offices of Swindler and Swindler. You may be entitled to a large cash benefit".........

But first we'll hear a litany of possible adverse reactions while seeing people out having fun, ending with the question, "shouldn't you ask your doctor?"

Seriously, though, if this stuff is as good as the researchers believe, it is a significant breakthrough.

 

[Bob0627]

Looking at it from the point of view of one who's already had 2 heart attacks, I have nothing to lose by trying it. Either the next one will kill me or this new drug will (if I'm around long enough to try it) or it will add a few more years for me. And if the drug kills me, at least my family can make a few bucks from a lawsuit. It looks like a win-win.

 

[lizzie]

But first we'll hear a litany of possible adverse reactions while seeing people out having fun, ending with the question, "shouldn't you ask your doctor?"

Seriously, though, if this stuff is as good as the researchers believe, it is a significant breakthrough.

Well, it may be, but there's also pretty strong evidence that taking a supplemental amino acid (I can't remember exactly which one right now) significantly improves CHF symptoms, but you just don't hear much about it. Probably because it's considered "alternative", and not a pharmaceutical drug. Although I've been in the medical industry for over 30 years, I am hesitant to take anything that isn't tried, tested, and true for awhile. This may be great. My reservation is that it hasn't been on the market for awhile.

 

[Threegoofs]

Well, it may be, but there's also pretty strong evidence that taking a supplemental amino acid (I can't remember exactly which one right now) significantly improves CHF symptoms, but you just don't hear much about it. Probably because it's considered "alternative", and not a pharmaceutical drug. Although I've been in the medical industry for over 30 years, I am hesitant to take anything that isn't tried, tested, and true for awhile. This may be great. My reservation is that it hasn't been on the market for awhile.

It's not on the market at all. Late next year is the best case scenario.

And if you're talking about l-arginine, there's no evidence it's helpful, and you should stop watching Dr. Oz (America's #1 quack)

 

[lizzie]

It's not on the market at all. Late next year is the best case scenario.

And if you're talking about l-arginine, there's no evidence it's helpful, and you should stop watching Dr. Oz (America's #1 quack)

It wasn't l-arginine. Iirc, it was taurine, but it's been awhile since I read it.

 

[Fenton]

excellent news.

Bonus - maybe dick cheney will live forever and frustrate liberals without end!!

lol !