February-Heart Disease
February is American Heart Month
Heart disease is the leading cause of death of Americans. However, the death rate for cardiovascular disease fell 26.4% between 1999 and 2005.
[i] Much of the decline is attributable to medical treatments, including increased use of prescription medicines such as cholesterol drugs and blood thinners.
[ii]
Learn more below about cardiovascular disease, the new medicines that are in development to treat it, and the researchers who are dedicated to improving outcomes for patients.
Heart Disease and Stroke Backgrounder Click here to learn more about heart disease and stroke, including treatments and progress in current research.
Then & Now – Treatment of High Cholesterol It's easy to forget, but not very long ago the treatments we might today take for granted hadn't yet been developed.
Click here to read about past and present treatment options for high cholesterol and its effects on cardiovascular health.
New Medicines in Development
PhRMA published a report in February 2009 announcing that biopharmaceutical researchers are testing more than 300 medicines for two of the three leading causes of death of Americans: heart disease and stroke.
Click here to read the full report and also find links to more Innovation.org resources on current cardiovascular research and innovations.
Recent FDA Approvals for Cardiovascular Disease
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EffientTM– prasugrel hydorchloride – approved 7/10/2009 For reducing the risk of blood clots from forming during angioplasty.
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Multag® – dronedarone – approved 7/1/2009 For use in patients with a history of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter; to be used in patients whose hearts have returned to normal rhythm or who will undergo drug or electric-shock treatment to restore a normal heart beat.
- SamscaTM – tolvaptan – approved 5/19/2009
For treatment of hyponatremia (low concentration of sodium in the blood) associated with congestive heart failure, liver cirrhosis, and the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion.
Click here for a full list of recent FDA approvals in all disease areas.
Featured Studies and Reports
As part of its ongoing effort to encourage new research and pharmaceutical innovation, Innovation.org highlights key studies and reports into critical disease areas. Read about new studies in cardiovascular disease.
- Statins Help Reduce the Risk of Stroke (May 1, 2009) Read more
- Cardiovascular Deaths Falling, but Risk Factors on the Rise (December 15, 2008) Read more
Charts
Review the charts below for recent analysis specific to cardiovascular disease.
Click here to view all of Innovation.org's charts.
[i]D. Lloyd-Jones, et. al., "Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics - 2009 Update. A Report from the American Heart Association Statistics Committee and Stroke Statistics Subcommittee," Circulation, 119 (2009): e21-e181, available at: http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/CIRCULATIONAHA.108.191261v1.
[ii]American Heart Association, "Heart and Stroke Death Rates Down, Some Risk Factors Still Too High," press release, 15 December 2008, http://americanheart.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=626.
