Home » Drug Information » Recently Approved Drugs » 1997
Medical Areas: Cardiology/Vascular Diseases | Endocrinology
Drug Information
The following information is obtained from various newswires, published
medical journal articles, and medical conference presentations.
Company: Ciba Pharmaceuticals
Approval Status: Approved January 1997
Treatment Area: hypertension
Diovan has been approved as the newest entry to a novel class of
antihypertensive drugs, the angiotensin II receptor blockers
(ARBs). Diovan is indicated for the first-line treatment of
hypertension. It offers blood pressure control comparable to
current leading antihypertensive therapies (lisinopril and
enalapril) and an outstanding side-effect profile.
Diovan is a first-line therapy, which has a recommended starting
dose of 80 mg once daily and will be available by prescription in
capsule form.
As with other drugs that work in the renin-angiotensin system,
Diovan therapy should be discontinued as soon as pregnancy is
detected.
Diovan works by selectively blocking the angiotensin II hormone
from binding to the AT1-receptor, located in many different tissues
such as vascular smooth muscle. The blocking of angiotensin II
results in dilation of blood vessels, thereby lowering blood
pressure.
