New Consortium Paves the way for Improved Treatment of Hypertension and Associated Vascular Complications

LEIDEN, The Netherlands, November 17 - Top Institute Pharma (TI Pharma) has formed a
consortium with Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Erasmus Medical Centre and
Maastricht University to define new modalities for the treatment of
hypertension (high blood pressure) and associated vascular complications such
as heart and kidney failure, myocardial infarction and stroke. Based on novel
action mechanisms, new drugs may be discovered with the potential to prevent
vascular complications in patients with hypertension: an opportunity to
improve the quality of life for over a billion people worldwide. This
collaboration, involving 3.4 million euros, 9 new research positions, unique
materials and exchange of know-how, is scheduled to last 3 years.

Jan Danser, Professor of Pharmacology at Erasmus MC says: "Ideally, new
antihypertensive drugs not only lower blood pressure, but also offer organ
protection. Our project studies the consequences of blocking the biological
pathways in cells and organs that lead to hypertension. As such, the project
will pave the way towards finding new ways to better treat hypertension and
its associated vascular complications." Additionally, the project will focus
on finding new modalities for the treatment of fibrosis and pulmonary
hypertension, especially in children.

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a leading risk factor for
coronary heart disease, renal insufficiency, pulmonary fibrosis and stroke.
Hypertension often results in vascular complications and end-organ damage:
major organs like the heart, kidneys, lung, brain and eyes, which are fed by
the circulatory system, are affected by fluctuations in blood pressure. The
number of people suffering from high blood pressure worldwide is increasing:
1 billion people are currently affected, but estimates predict that in 2025
the number will exceed 1.5 billion. Despite the high occurrence and sometimes
great burden of the disease, available treatments are far from being
sufficient. For children suffering from hypertension, an adequate treatment
does not even exist.

The Netherlands Heart Foundation also supports this research. Hans Stam,
director of the Netherlands Heart Foundation says: "Hypertension is a major
risk factor for cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction, heart
failure and stroke. Unfortunately, antihypertensive medication fails to lower
blood pressure sufficiently in numerous cases. For instance, research funded
by the Netherlands Heart Foundation showed that 25% of the patients did not
benefit from treatment with ACE inhibitors. An effective treatment of
hypertension is of the utmost importance in our battle against cardiovascular
diseases. The Netherlands Heart Foundation welcomes this new consortium and
its efforts to explore new and more effective hypertension therapies."

For more information, please contact Ingeborg van der Heijden: +31-71-3322036.