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Life-saving 'polypill' takes on drug companies

29/09/2008

A drug which its backers claim could halve the number of deaths caused by strokes and heart attacks goes on clinical trials for the first time today.

The 'polypill', or Red Heart pill, will be tested by up to 7,000 volunteers around the world if the 12-week pilot trial beginning today goes well.

It combines four drugs in one tablet. Because they are all commonplace, like aspirin, it is claimed pharmaceutical companies are unwilling to develop it commercially.

Anthony Rodgers, who is co-director of the clinical trials unit which will test the Red Heart pill at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, said developers had encountered difficulty in persuade drug firms to back the pill.

"Basically, their whole business model is around people paying a few hundred pounds a year for the latest blockbuster drug," he said.

"A pill with established medicines that halved cardiovascular risk and could be available for £20 a year could be seen as a threat."

If the polypill proves its worth it could have a significant impact on global health, particularly in developing countries. According to the World Health Organisation they account for four in five of the 17 million deaths from heart disease and strokes which occur every year.

Indian-based global pharmaceutical firm Dr Reddy's is developing the Red Heart pill.