Servier launches medicine to treat high blood pressure

France-based pharmaceutical manufacturer Servier has launched a medication in Bangladesh that treats high blood pressure.

The drug is a combination of amlodipine, which works by relaxing blood vessels so blood can flow more easily, and indapamide, which works by creating more urine to help get rid of extra salt and water.

M Nazrul Islam, professor of cardiology at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University hospital, unveiled the medicine at a scientific symposium organised by Servier at the Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden on Friday, said a press release.

Speakers at the symposium said an estimated 1.28 billion people in the world suffer from hypertension (high blood pressure), one of the leading causes of deaths, and two-third are living in low and middle-income countries. Of them, around 3 crore are in Bangladesh, over half of whom are unaware and almost half of whom are aged above 55 years while among those taking anti-hypertensive, 88 per cent are uncontrolled.

Neil Poulter, professor of preventive cardiovascular medicine at Imperial College London in the United Kingdom, delivered a keynote speech.

National Professor Abdul Malik, founder and president of the National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh, Prof KMHS Sirajul Haque, honourary professor of cardiology at Anwer Khan Modern Medical College, and Tofazzal Hossain Bhuiyan, head of operations of Servier Bangladesh, were also present.