After a 3 month trial, some very exciting results have been reported by the creators of the ‘polypill’, a drug which decreases cholesterol, blood pressure (BP) and risk of stroke and heart attack by a colossal two thirds. The crew from Queen Mary, UL, suggest that if everyone over the age of 50 years took the inexpensive pill daily then the numbers currently dying of cardiovascular disease would be cut in half. The researchers are saying that for over one in four of those over the age of 50 who take the pill as a preventative measure will essentially gain 11 years of life. Can the answer to all our problems really be contained in one pill?
The polypill is a combined pill consisting of amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide and losartan, which are drugs used for the lowering of blood pressure. In addition to these drugs, simvastatin, the cholesterol lowering drug, is also present meaning those who are deemed at high risk of stroke or heart attack can avoid taking both a statin and a drug for lowering their BP and take this all-in-one, for want of a better word, miracle, drug.
Cholesterol levels were cut by 39% according to the trial reports and BP decreased by 12% at the end of the three month period. The team subsequently predicted that by taking the polypill, the risk of suffering an event caused by heart disease would decrease by 72% and the risk of stroke would decrease by 64%.
Fears over side effects and a lack of knowledge regarding death rates mean that larger independent trials will be called for before this drug is approved for market. It is also feared that by introducing a pill like this onto the market that the focus will shift from key issues such as obesity and the promotion of healthy lifestyle and that instead we’ll be queuing for our quick fix wonder drug and unfazed by the consequences of existing on little exercise and poor diet.