FDA approves additional use for hypertension drug

INGELHEIM, Germany The Food and Drug Administration has approved an additional use for Boehringer Ingelheim's Micardis (telmisartan), a hypertension drug.

Boehringer Ingelheim announced Tuesday that the FDA had approved Micardis (telmisartan) to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular disease death in patients ages 55 years and older who can’t take drugs belonging to the class known as ACE inhibitors, which includes such generic drugs as ramipril and lisinopril.

“We are delighted with this new indication for Micardis, which will provide both physicians and their patients who are at risk of cardiovascular events with a much-needed alternative to ACE inhibitors,” BI corporate VP medical affairs Klaus Dugi stated. “Approximately 1-in-4 patients are unable to tolerate an ACE inhibitor.”