FDA approves hypertension drug for adolescents

PARSIPPANY, N.J. The Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug by Daiichi Sankyo for treating hypertension in children and adolescents, Daiichi Sankyo announced Thursday.

The FDA approved Benicar (olmestartan medoxomil) for treating hypertension in patients ages 6 to 16 years. The drug was originally approved to treat hypertension in adults in 2002.

Hypertension affects about 3.6 million American children, and most are unaware they have the condition. Studies have indicated that rising rates of obesity in children have increased the rate since the 1980s.

“As hypertension is on the rise in a younger population, Daiichi Sankyo believes it is important to help doctors meet the challenge of treating these pediatric patients by providing a treatment option to help people effectively manage their hypertension,” Daiichi Sankyo Pharma Development VP clinical development operations Reinilde Heyrman said.