Another negative calcium channel blocker trial
Executive Summary
King's ACE inhibitor Altace (ramipril) and AstraZeneca's beta blocker Toprol (metoprolol) each significantly reduced the risk of kidney failure compared to Pfizer's calcium channel blocker Norvasc (amlodipine) in hypertensive patients with kidney disease and at least 1 g/day of protein in their urine, the NIH African American Study of Kidney Disease and Hypertension finds. NIH is terminating the Norvasc arm of the study in response to the findings. Pfizer points out that the finding is based on a relatively small number of patients with severe kidney disease