New drug to treat heart failure

A drug that could benefit people with heart failure has been approved by European regulators, it was revealed here Tuesday. New data on Procoralan (ivabradine) suggests it cuts death rates and the need for a patient to be hospitalised for heart failure, which affects about 900,000 people in the UK. The drug has been approved by European regulators but has yet to be assessed for widespread use in the UK by the health authorities, the Guardian newspaper said. It costs less than 10 pounds a week and is already prescribed for patients in the UK with angina. Data published today suggests Procoralan can reduce the risk of death from heart failure by 39 percent, the risk of death from all types of cardiovascular disease by 17 percent and the risk of death from all causes by 17 percent. In addition, the drug, which slows down the heart rate, was found to cut the risk of heart failure patients requiring hospitalisation by 30 percent. The study involved 6,505 people in 37 countries, including the UK. Heart failure occurs when the organ becomes too weak to pump blood efficiently round the body, leading to fatigue, breathlessness, a higher heart rate and other problems. Professor Martin Cowie, consultant cardiologist and specialist in heart failure at the Royal Brompton Hospital, and UK lead investigator for the study, said: "Heart failure is a very common problem, affecting approximately 1 percent of the population. "The decision to approve this new indication for ivabradine is great news for both doctors and patients, and is a significant step forward in the management of heart failure. "While Ace inhibitors and beta-blockers remain very important in the treatment of this condition, the results of the trial demonstrate the value that a reduction in heart rate with ivabradine can bring both in terms of improving symptoms and preventing disease progression, but also in helping patients return to normal daily activities and increasing their enjoyment of life."