Antihypertensive drug Micatrio combination tablets launch in Japan

Nippon Boehringer Ingelheim Co., Ltd. and Astellas Pharma Inc. announced that the companies have newly launched “Micatrio®Combination Tablets,” a combination drug of “Micardis® Tablets” (AT1 receptor blocker [ARB]), long-acting calcium channel blocker (CCB) amlodipine besylate and the thiazide diuretic hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ).

Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular death, yet the rate of the patient undergoing treatment and keeping their blood pressure under control remains at approximately 30% for men and approximately 40% for women.  By increasing the medication adherence, the combination drug is expected to improve the rate to achieve a target blood pressure.1 The newly launched “Micatrio® Combination Tablets” is the first combination drug in Japan to contain the three ingredients of a renin-angiotensin inhibitor, a CCB and small dose diuretic.  Compared to ARB/CCB combination formulations and ARB/HCTZ combination formulations, it is expected to have a strong antihypertensive effect that lasts for 24 hours. 

“Micatrio® Combination Tablets” constitute the Micardis® family along with “Micardis® 20mg/40mg/80mg Tablets”, “Micombi® Combination Tablets AP/BP”, a combination drug with HCTZ and “Micamlo®Combination Tablets AP/BP,” a combination drug with the long-acting CCB amlodipine besylate (telmisartan formulations).In addition, “Micatrio® Combination Tablets,” like the other telmisartan formulations, will be manufactured by Nippon Boehringer Ingelheim, distributed by Astellas and co-promoted by both companies. Nippon Boehringer Ingelheim and Astellas remain committed to further contribute to hypertension treatment through the Micardis family.

Overview of “Micatrio® Combination Tablets” 
Date of Launch: November 18, 2016
Date of Price Listing: November 18, 2016
Date of Approval：September 28, 2016
Brand Name: Micatrio® Combination Tablets
Generic Name: Telmisartan/amlodipine besylate/hydrochlorothiazide
Dosage Form/Content: Film-coated tablet containing 80 mg, 5 mg and 12.5 mg of telmisartan, amlodipine, and hydrochlorothiazide per tablet, respectively

About Telmisartan
Telmisartan is a drug that was discovered and developed by Boehringer Ingelheim.  In Japan, telmisartan is available as Micardis® Tablets 20 mg / 40 mg / 80 mg, Micombi® Combination Tablets AP/BP, a combination drug with HCTZ, and Micamlo® Combination Tablets AP/BP, a combination drug with the long-acting CCB amlodipine besilate. These drugs comprise the Micardis® family of products including Micatrio.  They are number one in terms of sales in the ARB family in Japan2.  In ONTARGET3, the largest ARB clinical study published in 2008, it was reported to have effectiveness for suppressing cardiovascular events equivalent to ACE inhibitor Ramipril (unapproved in Japan).