Novartis received approval from the FDA for Exforge, a once-daily tablet combination of two high blood pressure medicines: Diovan, an angiotensin receptor blocker, and Norvasc, a calcium channel blocker.

The approval was supported by an extensive clinical program involving more than 5,000 patients. In two placebo-controlled trials, Exforge helped nine out of 10 patients reach their treatment goal of diastolic blood pressure under 90 mmHg, or more than a 10 mmHg reduction in diastolic blood pressure from baseline levels.

Exforge was approved in January 2007 in the EU and is currently available in nine EU countries, including Germany and the UK. Exforge is also available in Switzerland.