NC Healthcare Coverage Blog

There may soon be an affordable and easy way to stave off heart disease and strokes. One pill, taken daily, that blends aspirin and four blood pressure and cholesterol medicines, has passed its first substantial test.

This innovative “polypill” was found to be as beneficial as all of the elements taken separately, with no increase in side effects. According to the study, a person’s risk for heart disease and stroke can be reduced by half, by consistently taking it.

The Polycap, an exploratory combo by Cadila Pharmaceuticals of Ahmedabad, India, was tested in the study. It has small doses of three blood pressure medicines (atenolol, ramipril and the “water pill” thiazide). It also has the generic version of the cholesterol-lowering statin drug Zocor and a 100 milligram baby aspirin.

In the study, there were about 2,000 people at 50 centers in India. The average age was 54 and they each person at least one risk factor for heart disease, such as high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes or smoking. Four hundred were given the polypill. The rest were put in eight groups of 200. They were given separate components of the pill. The treatment took place over 12 weeks.

The polypill reduced systolic blood pressure (the number on top) by more than seven units and diastolic (the bottom number) was reduced by almost six, when compared with groups who received no blood pressure medications.

Bad cholesterol or LDL, decreased by 23 percent on the polypill against 28 percent in those taking the statin drug separately. Triglycerides came down by 10 percent on the combo pill versus 20 percent with the individual statin use. Good cholesterol, or HDL, was not affected by either pill. Anti-clotting effects were the same as with aspirin by itself and side effect rates were also the same for the polypill as they were for the five separate medicines.

The maker of Polycap sponsored the study. There is currently not an available price for the polypill, but generic ingredients cost around $17 a month.

A larger study is still needed to find out whether the polypill does reduce heart attacks and strokes. Also, the Food and Drug Administration will need to approve the polypill.