A new low-dose pill combining three blood pressure medications has proven to be more effective than traditional treatment methods, according to a recent study.
The pill, known as GMRx2, was tested in Nigeria as part of the “VERONICA-Nigeria” trial led by The George Institute for Global Health.
The results were shared at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2024 and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
GMRx2 is a once-daily pill that includes low doses of three common blood pressure medications: telmisartan, amlodipine, and indapamide.
This triple combination was compared to the standard treatment recommended by the Nigerian Ministry of Health, which typically starts with a single drug and gradually adds more if needed.
After six months, the study showed that patients taking the GMRx2 pill had a greater reduction in their home systolic blood pressure—31 mmHg lower compared to 26 mmHg lower with the standard treatment.
The difference of 5.8 mmHg is considered both clinically and statistically significant. Research shows that every 5 mmHg decrease in systolic blood pressure can reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events, like stroke and heart attack, by 10%.
The benefits of the GMRx2 pill were seen early in the study. After just one month, 81% of patients taking GMRx2 had their blood pressure under control, compared to 55% of those receiving standard care. By the end of six months, these figures were 82% and 72%, respectively. Both treatment approaches were well-tolerated, with no participants dropping out due to side effects.
Professor Dike Ojji, the lead investigator from the University of Abuja in Nigeria, highlighted the significance of these results. “The triple pill showed meaningful reductions in blood pressure even when the standard care closely followed current guidelines,” he said. This is particularly important in low-income countries, where fewer than 25% of treated individuals achieve proper blood pressure control, and even in wealthier countries, the success rate is only 50-70%.
Globally, over a billion adults suffer from high blood pressure, with two-thirds living in low- and middle-income countries. High blood pressure is the leading cause of death worldwide, responsible for over 10 million deaths each year. The success of the GMRx2 pill could be a game-changer, especially in regions with the highest burden of cardiovascular disease.
GMRx2 is developed by George Medicines, a company aiming to address the significant need for better treatment options for heart-related diseases. The pill has recently been submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for approval.
Professor Anthony Rodgers, a senior fellow at The George Institute, emphasized the potential impact of this new treatment. “Our goal is to improve the health of millions of people worldwide and ease the pressure on health systems. The VERONICA trial shows the potential of this innovative strategy to achieve global targets for blood pressure control.”
The development of GMRx2 represents a significant step forward in the fight against hypertension, offering new hope for millions of people at risk of heart disease and stroke.
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