Vienna, Austria, 2 September 2007: Drugs that block a hormonal cascade, known as the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), help patients with heart failure. Direct renin inhibitors (DRIs) block the RAAS at its first and rate-limiting step. As a result, all downstream products in the RAAS cascade are suppressed and DRIs are specific for the RAAS. Both these properties differentiate DRIs from angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs).

We examined the tolerability and safety of the first clinically available orally acting DRI, aliskiren, in a randomised placebo-controlled trial in heart failure. In the ALiskiren Observation of heart Failure Treatment study (ALOFT) we enrolled 302 patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II-IV heart failure with current or prior hypertension and a plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentration > 100 pg/mL from 73 sites in 9 countries. Patients had to be optimally treated with an ACE-I or ARB and a beta-blocker, unless contraindicated or not tolerated. Patients were studied for 3 months.

Although primarily a safety and tolerability study, a variety of "efficacy" measurements were made. The first three of these were to study the effect of aliskiren, compared to placebo, on N terminal pro BNP, BNP and aldosterone. Compared to placebo, aliskiren reduced plasma NT-pro BNP by 25 (95%CI 6-39)%, p=0.0106; plasma BNP by 25 (5-41)%, p=0.0160 and urinary aldosterone by 21(4-34)%, p=0.0150. There was also a favourable change in a Doppler-echocardiographic measure of left ventricular filling pressure. Aliskiren was well tolerated and there was no significant excess of hypotension or renal dysfunction.

In summary, this first sizeable, placebo-controlled, trial with aliskiren, the lead agent in the new class of orally active DRIs showed favourable neurohumoral and other effects in otherwise optimally treated patients with heart failure. These promising initial findings support further evaluation of aliskiren as a possible future treatment for heart failure.

Notes to editors:
This study was presented at the ESC Congress 2007 in Vienna.

The European Society of Cardiology (ESC):
The ESC represents nearly 53,000 cardiology professionals across Europe and the Mediterranean. Its mission is to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease in Europe.

The ESC achieves this through a variety of scientific and educational activities including the coordination of: clinical practice guidelines, education courses and initiatives, pan-European surveys on specific disease areas and the ESC Annual Congress, the largest medical meeting in Europe. The ESC also works closely with the European Commission and WHO to improve health policy in the EU.

The ESC comprises 3 Councils, 5 Associations, 19 Working Groups, 50 National Cardiac Societies and an ESC Fellowship Community (Fellow, FESC; Nurse Fellow, NFESC). For more information on ESC Initiatives, Congresses and Constituent Bodies see www.escardio.org.

European Society of Cardiology, The European Heart House 2035 Route des Colles, B.P. 179 - Les Templiers, Sophia Antipolis F-06903 France

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