The Wall Street Journal-20080122-Novartis AG- Combined Tekturna Pill Wins Approval in U-S-
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Novartis AG: Combined Tekturna Pill Wins Approval in U.S.
A new pill from Novartis AG combining its blood-pressure-lowering drug Tekturna with a diuretic has won U.S. approval, the Switzerland- based company said. Clinical data showed the combination of Tekturna and diuretic HCT lowered blood pressure better than either medicine alone, Novartis said. Diuretics, or water pills, are one of the oldest types of blood-pressure-lowering medicines, ridding the body of unneeded water and salt. Tekturna was launched last year in Europe and the U.S., but it has been off to a slow start, generating 2007 sales of $40 million. Tekturna was developed in collaboration with Speedel Holding AG, a Swiss pharmaceuticals company, which spearheaded early development of the product.
