Heart Health
published : 2023-08-24
Innovative Heart Pill Makes WHO’s Essential Medicines List
Post-Heart Attack Combo Pill Lowers Cardiovascular Mortality by 33%, Study Reveals
An innovative heart drug that consolidates three essential medications into one pill, known as a 'polypill', has recently been added to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) List of Essential Medicines.
This medical marvel, designed specifically for those individuals who have previously suffered a heart attack or similar heart-related event, aims at preventing a recurrence.
In a remarkable display of perseverance, it took scientists 15 years of rigorous study and several trials to achieve this breakthrough.
According to Valentin Fuster, M.D., PhD, president of Mount Sinai Heart and physician-in-chief of The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, this solution could be a game-changer for global cardiovascular health strategies.
The therapeutic solution's entry into the WHO's List of Essential Medicines signifies its potential impact as it has shown remarkable results, reducing the risk of recurring heart disease and cardiovascular fatalities.
The polypill, which consists of three commonly used medications: acetylsalicylic acid, ramipril, and atorvastatin, was found to be as effective as the separate pill regimen that is typically given to patients post-heart attack, the SECURE trial revealed.
Moreover, the study disclosed a noticeable 33% reduction in cardiovascular deaths among patients that had previously suffered heart attacks.
This effectiveness; coupled with the convenience of a single pill increasing patients’ adherence to their treatment regimen, further proves the value of the polypill in preventing cardiovascular events.
Available under the brand names Trinomia, Sincronium and Iltria depending on the location, the polypill is already commercially available in 25 countries.
The FDA, however, is yet to clear it for use in the U.S.
Every year, almost 805,000 individuals in the U.S. suffer a heart attack.
Remarkably, of these, approximately 200,000 have previously suffered a cardiac event emphasizing the need for an effective solution like the polypill.
