Pfizer Inc said that it has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration to market its dual therapy medicine Caduet (amlodipine besylate/atorvastatin calcium) for the simultaneous treatment of high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Developed by Pfizer, Caduet is the first medicine to treat two different conditions-high blood pressure and high cholesterol-in one pill. Caduet contains both Norvasc (amlodipine besylate) for the treatment of high blood pressure and Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium) for high cholesterol.

"Caduet is a major advance for the millions of patients who concomitantly suffer from two serious medical conditions, as it combines two leading medications, each with extensive worldwide experience," said Dr Joe Feczko, president of Worldwide Development at Pfizer. "Despite an abundance of available therapies, millions of patients continue to have uncontrolled hypertension and high cholesterol. By treating both conditions at the same time, physicians can help patients reduce their risk of developing cardiovascular disease."

High blood pressure and high cholesterol are the two leading risk factors for heart disease, which is the leading cause of death worldwide. Approximately 30 million people in the US have both conditions, although fewer than 10 per cent have achieved their recommended goal levels of blood pressure or cholesterol.

According to recent guidelines issued by the National Cholesterol Education Program, physicians are encouraged to aggressively treat patients who have both high blood pressure and high cholesterol, especially in those with known coronary heart disease.

"Treating patients with multiple risk factors is extremely challenging, and frankly, we are not doing a good job at getting people like this to their goals and are therefore leaving them at increased risk," said Professor William Frishman, professor and chairman of Medicine at New York Medical College and director of Medicine at Westchester Medical Center. "Therapeutic interventions like this are a significant step forward, and this could be an important new agent for patients and physicians."

Patients who suffer from both hypertension and high cholesterol have a much greater risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke than people who only have one of the conditions. Additionally, 60 per cent of all cardiovascular events are experienced by patients who have both conditions.