“30-year presence of antihypertensive Novarsc to continue"

An interview on Dr. Kim Cheol-ho, a professor at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital

Dr.

 

Kim Cheol-ho

Norvasc (amlodipine) is not the world’s first calcium channel blocker (CCB).

 

However, it is undisputedly the most famous CCB.

 

Launched in 1990s, Norvasc was not the first-in-class but it instigated a notable change in the market with the first once-daily administration.

 

Some say the drug marked the early beginning of the current day convenient administration marketing.

 

A star of hypertension drug market Novarsc is now celebrating its 30 year anniversary of marketing approval in South Korea.

 

Surely it is an old drug, but it still has its high reputation firmly built around ceaseless evolution.

 

In 2017, Norvasc T was released to the market for the patients, who need amlodipine and telmisartan simultaneously.

 

The company also introduced an improved bottle packaging to enhance the convenience of patients and healthcare providers storing and managing Norvasc T and to absorb the moisture of telmisartan.

 

And besides the existing line of 5 mg and 10 mg tablets, the brand also launched 2.5 mg tablet for children from age six to 17, which was the first among all CCB original drugs for hypertension.

 

From then on, Novarsc has been offering necessary dosage options to effectively bring down blood pressure in patients ranging from six years of age to elderly.

 

Daily Pharm interviewed Dr.

 

Kim Cheol-ho, a professor at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital Department of Internal Medicine to hear more about the value of Novarsc.

 

-This year marks the 30th year for Novarsc.

 

What was your first impression on the drug?

 

And how was the hypertension treatment scene back then?

 

Around 1989, I discovered Norvasc from an international journal.

 

Back then the drug had not been introduced to South Korea, yet.

 

During that time, only diuretics, beta-blockers and first and second generation CCBs with short duration of action were available.

 

As amlodipine, or Norvac, was introduced, the South Korean market welcomed a once-daily calcium blocker.

 

-How did it improve the treatment scene particularly, other than administration convenience or adherence?

 

The drug’s coercion effect was groundbreaking.

 

First, we used nifedipine three times a day, and then Perdipine twice a day.

 

But when we switched to once-daily Novarsc, we found the blood pressure went down significantly.

 

It was a shocking experience.

 

-Since the release of Novarsc, how did the trend in hypertension treatment or cardiovascular disease prevention shift?

 

Simply put, the paradigm had changed.

 

Although previously we had diuretics, beta-blockers and first generation angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, their antihypertensive effects were not strong enough.

 

But with Novarsc’s remarkable coercion effect, more patients were able to reach the target blood pressure level.

 

Especially from 2000, when the Separation of Prescription and Dispensing (SPD) System was implemented, patients had to get prescription for drugs and the hypertension control in South Korea has gotten much better.

 

From early 2000 to mid-2000s, the hypertension control rate in South Korea was increased from approximately 10 percent to 40 percent.

 

CCB was an integral factor to the improvement, and Novarsc’s part in CCB was huge.

 

-What is the latest topics addressed about hypertension control? There are two major questions—‘is the blood pressure the lower the better?’ and ‘is the treatment the earlier the better?

 

We have not found a clear answer to the question of ‘is the blood pressure the lower the better?’ It is an issue of how much antihypertensive effect is good.’ And it relates to a definition of how high is high.

 

Although we do not have accurate data to support how early the hypertension treatment should start, I personally advise discovering the hypertension patient in their 30s to 40s is better.

 

Recent studies claim high blood pressure is related to a cause of dementia, so treating it from early on would help patients maintain their cognitive function as well.

 

-Would you say the significant influence of Novarsc in hypertension management would be maintained in the future?

 

For a long time, its presence would continue to be noticeable.

 

It is true that the drug has contributed immensely in protecting the Korean people from cardiovascular diseases for three decades.

 

In last decade, the improvement rate in hypertensive control in South Korea has been growing sluggishly.

 

Almost to the point there is no growth.

 

Both the people and the healthcare providers should pay more attention, and the government and relevant organizations should also raise awareness of the condition.