THE Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has approved a new drug for high blood pressure - a combination therapy pill that packs two drugs into one tablet.
Azoren, comprising two active ingredients that combat the condition in different ways, was given the green light by the local drug regulatory body last month for hypertension treatment.
Made by drug giant Pfizer, one pack of 28 tablets costs $65 for both the 25mg and 45mg doses. This works out to about $2.30 a pill, and patients take one a day. Other brand-name drugs also cost about $2 apiece.
But opting for a combination pill can be up to 40 per cent cheaper than taking two separate sets of drugs for the same condition, said consultant cardiologist Peter Yan.
Each pill contains two key ingredients - olemesartan medoxomil and amlodipine besylate. The first ingredient inhibits the action of a hormone called angiotensin II, which can constrict blood vessels and lead to their narrowing.
The other component, amlodipine besylate, counters the effect of calcium in blood vessels. Muscle cells in the arteries contain calcium channels that transport the mineral to cells. But when calcium flows through them, arteries constrict - which in turn drives up blood pressure. Both ingredients relax the blood vessels, helping to lower blood pressure. They are usually sold separately.
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