Drug aimed at combating heart failure could save thousands of lives a year in Britain
Scientists develop drug which could help heart attack victims and save the NHS £2.3 billion a year
A NEW drug aimed at combating heart failure could save thousands of lives a year in Britain, say researchers.
Entresto boosts the performance of damaged organs that no longer pump blood properly.
It was licensed for UK use earlier this year after working so well in trials they were stopped early.
Experts are confident it will have a “substantial impact” on the condition which develops when cardiac muscle is destroyed by heart attack.
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The damage is behind one in 20 hospital admissions and costs the NHS about £2.3billion a year.
Sufferers face chest pain, fatigue and breathlessness and 40 per cent of the 65,000 a year diagnosed die inside 12 months.
University of California scientists found Entresto, and similar drugs in development, could save 28,500 lives a year in the US.
They studied how many patients would be suitable for the drug because their existing treatments were having little benefit.
Researcher Dr Gregg Fonarrow said: “It will have a substantial impact for patients.”
