New cholesterol-lowering drugs and blood thinners along with angioplasty are proving to reduce the number of fatal cases in cardiovascular diseases (CAD) in India and abroad. The drugs have helped to cut deaths from heart diseases by more than half in the last five decades, though heart disease continue to top the list of killer diseases annually.

Globally and in India the expected advancements in CAD therapies include adult stem cells to restore cardiac function at Stempeutics, part of the Manipal Group, a new anticoagulant to control clot formation to prevent stroke in atrial fibrillation and a vaccine to promote 'good' cholesterol by a global company in US and vaccine to prevent heart attacks under research at the Narayana Hrudayalaya and the Thrombosis Research Institute, London, UK.

According to Billy Tauzin, president and CEO, PhRMA, global pharmaceutical and biotech researchers are testing over 250 drugs for heart diseases and stroke. Many of them are under clinical trials and review by the US FDA.

India pharma companies are of the view that there have been no revolutionary drugs to treat cardiovascular diseases in the last seven years. Companies are still dealing with beta-blockers, anti-arrhythmic or membrane stabilizing agents, anti hypertensive, diuretics, anti angina, peripheral vasodilators, coagulants, anti-platelets and vaso-suppressors.

The Indian cardiology market is valued at Rs 3,000 crore and registering a growth rate of 20 per cent annually. Some of the dominating players are Sun Pharma, Ranbaxy, Cipla, Torrent, Dr. Reddy's, Intas, Micro Labs and AstraZeneca.

Bio-pharma major Biocon has a range of formulations in the cardiology segment segment like Statix for cholesterol control, Statix EZ, Telmisat and Zargo for blood pressure.

"Interventions by way of drug eluting stents (DES) and angioplasty procedures have made a big difference in the medical management of cardiovascular disorders.

Cardiovascular drugs like Rananolazine and Telmisarta in the hypertensive segment are proving to have additional benefits in the medical management of cardiovascular disorders," stated VR Kannan, pharma consultant.

On the World Cardiology Day observed on September 29, cardiologists and pharma companies are looking at ways to handle the rise in lifestyle disorders such as heart diseases, diabetes and stroke coupled with lack of preventive healthcare which is now beginning to threatens the India's future growth prospects gong by the high level of work related stress, stated sources from Micro Labs.

Annually, there are over six million deaths from cardiovascular disorders and over three million deaths associated to diabetes worldwide, stated Dr CN Manjunath, head, Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology, a state government cardiac care centre.

" Modification in lifestyle and proper medication can delay and prevent heart diseases and diabetes in high-risk groups, stated Dr B Ramesh, interventional cardiologists, Sagar Hospital.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that mortality from heart disease and diabetes cost India about $210 billion annually and is expected to increase to $335 billion in the next ten years. These estimates are based on lost productivity, resulting primarily from premature death.

"Heart diseases and diabetes along with stroke are estimated to have wiped $9 billion of India's national income in 2006 but the losses could total a staggering $200 billion in the next one decade if corrective and timely action are not taken," reports the Indian Council of Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) study.