Head-to-head hypertension study shows olmesartan superior to losartan

New study results show that patients treated with olmesartan medoxomil (Benicar) 40 mg once daily experienced significantly greater blood pressure reductions and higher goal attainment rates than patients treated with losartan potassium (Cozaar) 100 mg once daily, after 8 weeks.

The BeniVICTOR study, Benicar Efficacy: New InVestigation In the Comparison of BP reductions beTween Olmesartan and losaRtan in patients with hypertension, met its primary end point of mean change from baseline in seated diastolic blood pressure (SeDBP) at 8 weeks. At week 8, patients treated with Benicar 40 mg achieved reductions of 13.6 mmHg Seated systolic blood pressure (SeSBP) and 9.7 mmHg SeDBP from a mean baseline blood pressure of 158.2/101.1 mmHg.

“This demonstrates olmesartan to be a more efficacious ARB at controlling blood pressure,” said Henry Punzi, MD, of the Trinity Hypertension and Metabolic Research Institute in Carrollton, Texas.

“Since blood pressure may not be controlled on losartan, this would cause physicians to have the patient come in to the clinic more often in order to manage blood pressure, using resources that could be well spent elsewhere. By using olmesartan, managed care and hospitals would have 40% of patients’ blood pressure under control, offsetting purchase cost with less resources used by patients and physicians,” Dr Punzi told Formulary.

The BeniVICTOR study was funded by Daiichi Sankyo, Inc., maker of Benicar.