Biovail Corporation announced that the Therapeutic Products Directorate (TPD) has approved Tiazac XC for the treatment of hypertension.

Tiazac XC (diltiazem HCl) represents a further advance in the treatment of hypertension, combining Biovail's advanced drug-delivery technology with the proven efficacy of diltiazem, a calcium channel blocker (CCB) that has been trusted by Canadian physicians for more than 20 years.

Biovail Pharmaceuticals Canada, the company's Canadian sales and marketing division, is currently in discussions with health-care professionals regarding the additional benefits of Tiazac XC. Biovail plans to launch Tiazac XC in the first quarter of 2005.

After the success of Biovail's Tiazac, Tiazac XC features a new extended-release delivery system designed for night-time administration, resulting in improved 24-hour blood-pressure (BP) control with additional BP control during the early morning hours, release from Biovail said.

"For many years, Tiazac has provided physicians and specialists with a proven, once-daily solution to reduce blood pressure," said Suzanne Villeneuve, vice-president and general manager of Biovail Pharmaceuticals Canada, the Canadian sales and marketing arm of Biovail Corporation. "The introduction of Tiazac XC represents a significant advance in diltiazem-based therapy," she added.

The improved release technology in Tiazac XC allows for bedtime administration, thereby targeting the high-risk morning surge in blood pressure that most patients experience and potentially reducing side effects.

Early-morning elevations in blood pressure are associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Research has shown these rises in blood pressure may be an important factor in the increased incidence of potentially life-threatening cardiovascular events - especially from 6 a.m. to noon. Data show a 40 per cent higher risk of heart attack, a 29 per cent higher risk of cardiac death and a 49 per cent higher risk of stroke during these critical morning hours.