The angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) azilsartan medoxomil (Edarbi – Takeda) was recently approved by the FDA for oral treatment of hypertension, either alone or combined with other drugs. It is the eighth ARB approved for this indication.

The FDA has approved a fixed-dose combination of the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) azilsartan and the thiazide-like diuretic chlorthalidone as Edarbyclor (Takeda) for treatment of hypertension

Breaking drug tablets in half is a common practice. Since our last article on this subject, some new data have become available.

The FDA has approved Byvalson (Allergan), a fixed-dose combination of the beta blocker nebivolol (Bystolic) and the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) valsartan (Diovan, and generics), for treatment of hypertension. It is the only combination product that contains nebivolol, and the first to combine a beta blocker with an ARB.

The FDA has approved Entresto (Novartis), an oral fixed-dose combination of the neprilysin inhibitor sacubitril and the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) valsartan, to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and heart failure hospitalization in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Sacubitril is the first neprilysin inhibitor to become available in the US.

American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines for treatment of hypertension were last published in 2018. Treatment of hypertensive urgencies and emergencies is not discussed here.