Blood pressure drugs cancer risk

A cancer risk?

A host of blood pressure drugs, including Novartis drug Diovan, are being investigated by the FDA over concerns that they may increase the risk of cancer.

A recent study of data from clinical trials has led to the suggestion that medicines, known as angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), "may be associated with a small increased risk of cancer," according to the FDA.

As a result, an investigation has been launched into ARBS that include Novartis AG's, Diovan, Merck & Co Inc's Cozaar and Avapro from Bristol-Myers Squibb Co and Sanofi-Aventis SA.

The FDA has stated that it has not yet fully determined if ARBs play any role in cancer, but have said that due to their role in providing relief to patients with heart failure and high blood pressure, "the benefits of ARBs continue to outweigh their potential risks."

7.2 percent rate

The investigation has come about after a study published in June in the Lancet medical journal examined data from more than 1000 patients in several long-term clinical trials.

The rate of new cancer cases was 7.2 percent for patients who took an ARB compared with six percent among patients who did not take one of the drugs. However, there was no difference in the rates of cancer-related deaths.

In the trials, the ARB that was primarily used (by 86 percent of patients) was Micardis by Boehringer Ingelheim. The drug has annual sales of more than $1.5 billion.

As one would expect, the assorted pharma companies have stood behind their medications, with Merck saying it "fully stands behind the tolerability and efficacy" of Cozaar, while Bristol-Myers and Sanofi said "no signal for new cancers has been found" in patients using Avapro.

While there has been no official word from Boehringer, it has been reported by Reuters that European regulators are also now increasing an rise in cancer risk when using ARBs.

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