The latest findings from a new data show that Twynsta, a once daily, single pill combination of the angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) telmisartan and the calcium channel blocker (CCB) amlodipine, leads to rapid and sustained blood pressure (BP) reductions that can bring most patients with previously uncontrolled hypertension on RAS inhibitor monotherapy to BP goal effectively within 4 weeks.

The results from the TEAMSTA Switch study, presented at the 22nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) in London, show that Twynsta delivers prompt BP control in the majority of patients with uncontrolled hypertension on RAS blocker monotherapy (i.e. angiotensin II receptor blockers, angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors or direct renin inhibitors) and provides further confirmation of its excellent efficacy in controlling high blood pressure.

Despite decades of persistent efforts, in Europe the BP control of patients who suffer from hypertension is only approximately 30%.  “This study clearly shows that the combination of an ARB with a CCB is a highly effective way of optimising blood pressure control in the majority of people”, said the lead author of TEAMSTA Switch, professor Bryan Williams, professor of Medicine at the University of Leicester.

Overall 53% patients reached BP goal within 4 weeks and 67.6% within 12 weeks. After 12 weeks, BP control rates ranged from 74.7-88% (depending on original monotherapy treatment) in patients receiving telmisartan 80mg/amlodipine 5mg and from 44.9-60.8% in patients who required uptitration to telmisartan 80mg/amlodipine 10mg at either week 4 or 6. Uptitrated patients had a longer history of hypertension, a higher systolic blood pressure (SBP) at baseline and twice as often suffered from concomitant diabetes. Using Home Blood Pressure Monitoring, 73.4% and 78.5% of patients reached the BP goal (<140/90 mmHg) after 4 and 12 weeks, respectively. At baseline, 69% of patients had mild hypertension (140-159/90-99 mmHg) which decreased to 27.1% after 12 weeks of treatment. At baseline, 26.5% of patients had moderate (160-179/100-109 mmHg) or severe hypertension (=180/ 110mmHg) which decreased to 4.3% after 12 weeks of treatment.

Twynsta showed a good safety profile and was well-tolerated in this patient population. The most common adverse event was peripheral oedema which was experienced by 13.2% of patients, with 5.2% being considered clinically relevant by the treating physician

Professor Klaus Dugi, corporate senior vice president medicine at Boehringer Ingelheim, commented: “These latest findings add to a robust evidence base, confirming that Twynsta is a valuable treatment option for patients with hypertension and is highly effective in helping patients who are uncontrolled to reach their BP goals.”

In September 2010, the Europe Medicines Agency (EMA) approved Twynsta (telmisartan plus amlodipine) for the treatment of hypertension in adults whose blood pressure is not adequately controlled on amlodipine or as replacement therapy in adult patients receiving telmisartan and amlodipine from separate tablets containing the same component doses.

In the US, Twynsta is approved by the FDA for the treatment of hypertension, alone or with other antihypertensive agents, and as initial therapy in patients who are likely to need multiple drugs to achieve their blood pressure goals.