'Magic polypill' for heart problems comes closer to reality

London, Oct 6 : Tests on Indian generic drug company Dr Reddy's new tablet, which can halve the risk of death due to heart attacks and stroke, have begun in London.

The once-a-day tablet called Red heart pill combines four different medicines - aspirin, a statin to lower cholesterol, and an ACE inhibitor and a thiazide to counter high blood pressure in one tablet, reports News Scientist.

The 12-week pilot trial includes seven hundred volunteers in six countries. If all goes well, the main trial with 5,000 to 7,000 volunteers will begin at the end of next year.

According to Simon Thom of Imperial College London, who is running the UK trials, the multi-drug polypill is aimed at reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke in poor and rich countries alike.

Thom said that there are particular groups who are not getting the required preventive therapy, both among those at modest cardiovascular risk who are not being evaluated and those at pretty serious risk who have already had a heart attack.

He said that the pill could be distributed to everyone over 55 in developing countries.

ANI