Candesartan Cilexetil, 16 mg, Provides a Greater Antihypertensive Effect than Losartan, 50 mg, in Patients with Mild to Moderate Hypertension

Candesartan is a new angiotensin II type 1 (AT 1 ) receptor blocker, which binds tightly to and dissociates slowly from the AT 1 -receptor. These binding characteristics underpin the long duration of action and antihypertensive efficacy of candesartan, and help to differentiate it from losartan, which was the first AT 1 -receptor blocker to be approved for the treatment of hypertension. This study compared the antihypertensive effect and tolerability of candesartan cilexetil, 8 or 16 mg once daily, with that of placebo and of losartan, 50 mg once daily, in patients with mild to moderate primary hypertension. The dose of 50 mg for losartan was chosen, as this is the dose usually recommended; higher doses do not seem to result in further reductions in blood pressure. Men and women, aged 20-80 years, with primary hypertension and a sitting diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of 95-114 mmHg at the end of a 4-week placebo run-in period, were randomized to once-daily, double-blind treatment with candesartan cilexeti...