Pfizer Inc announced that Caduet (amlodipine besylate and atorvastatin calcium), the first single pill that treats both high blood pressure and high cholesterol, has been made widely available for prescription to patients throughout the United States.

Caduet combines two medications in a single pill- Norvasc (amlodipine besylate), to treat high blood pressure and angina (chest pain) and Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium), to treat high cholesterol.

"High blood pressure and high cholesterol often occur together and treating them with multiple medications is a struggle for many patients and physicians-it's quite complex," said Roy Blank, Presbyterian Healthcare Associates of Monroe, NC. "Caduet offers a new, effective method of addressing two separate medical problems with one pill, and has a number of dose strengths that allows physicians the flexibility they need to tailor treatment for individual patient needs," Roy added.

High blood pressure and high cholesterol are two highly prevalent, yet commonly under-treated, conditions in the United States. More than two-thirds of Americans with high blood pressure do not have their blood pressure in control-this includes 25 per cent on blood pressure-lowering medication, 11 per cent who are not on medication, and 30 per cent who remain undiagnosed.

Among people with high cholesterol, more than 80 per cent are not adequately controlling their cholesterol in accordance with nationally recommended levels. Less than half of those who require cholesterol-lowering medication are receiving treatment and fewer than half of the highest risk patients are being treated. Overall, an estimated 55 per cent of people with high blood pressure also have high cholesterol and 43 per cent with high cholesterol have high blood pressure.

"The commonality and connectedness of high blood pressure and high cholesterol led us to the conclusion that the two conditions are intrinsically linked," said Craig Hopkinson, medical director, Pfizer Cardiovascular. "Therefore, it makes perfect sense that the medications be linked. That's when we decided to take a new approach to cardiovascular risk management through Caduet," he added.

Many people being treated for more than one medical condition appreciate the benefits of a single pill combination therapy such as Caduet. "Treating my high blood pressure and high cholesterol with one pill is a big improvement for me," said R. Elbert Holt, a Charlotte, NC patient, who was involved in the clinical trials and is currently taking Caduet. He added,
"This new medication means that I have to remember to take one less pill every day, which makes it simpler to lower my blood pressure and cholesterol to the goals my doctor recommends."

High blood pressure and high cholesterol are two of the major, controllable risk factors for heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States. An estimated 30 million Americans are diagnosed with both risk factors. When the two conditions co-exist, they compound the risk for heart disease. However, fewer than 10 per cent of patients are at both recommended goals for cholesterol and blood pressure.