Patients with Hypertension at Risk Due to Physician Inertia

New Supporting Hypertension Awareness and Research Europe-wide (SHARE) Survey Reports Findings at the 20th Annual Society of the European Society of Hypertension (ESH)

OSLO, June 21, 2010 - Data announced for the first time at ESH suggest that patients
with hypertension are at increased cardiovascular risk due to clinician
inertia, because physicians are failing to treat targets set by accepted
ESH-ESC (European Society of Hypertension and European Society of Cardiology)
guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension and do not act soon
enough to reduce blood pressure (BP).[1]

The findings from the Supporting Hypertension Awareness and
Research Europe-wide (SHARE) survey, which sought the views of 2629
physicians from primary and secondary care across Europe, were presented at
the 20th Annual Meeting of the European Society of Hypertension (ESH), Oslo.

According to SHARE, three quarters of physicians (76%) believe
that ESH-ESC guideline BP targets of 140/90 mmHg are 'about right'[2] and 5%
say that they are 'not tight enough'.[3]

Despite this, SHARE showed that 29% of physicians, were
satisfied with systolic blood pressure being above the ESH-ESC target of <140
mmHg and 15% were satisfied with diastolic blood pressure above target (<90
mmHg). Furthermore, while average blood pressure levels that would cause
concern were significantly higher than guideline targets (149/92 mmHg),
levels have to rise even further before physicians feel compelled to act
(168/100 mmHg).

SHARE reports that 77% of all physicians found it challenging
to get patients to ESH-ESC Guidelines, although this represents more
office-based (82%) than hospital-based physicians (63%).[4]

In fact, European physicians thought that on average 47% of
their patients were not attaining recommended ESH-ESC BP targets, but they
estimated that only 34% were 'Challenging Patients', defined by the SHARE
investigators as any patient not reaching goal blood pressure with a minimum
target of 140/90 mmHg. This suggests either that 13% of patients who are not
reaching target are not being treated aggressively enough or that the number
of 'Challenging Patients' is underestimated by physicians.[5]

"The risks associated with elevated blood pressure are well
documented and any patient with a blood pressure over 140/90 mmHg requires
persistent therapy review to achieve target and reduce their cardiovascular
risk. By underestimating the number of these 'Challenging Patients',
physicians are also failing to recognize the true extent of the economic and
health burden associated with this group," warns Prof Josep Redon, Professor
of Medicine, Head of Internal Medicine and Coordinator of the Hypertension
Unit, Hospital Clinico, University of Valencia, and SHARE Programme co-chair.

In Europe, the levels of blood pressure control among treated
hypertensive patients ranges from approximately 30-50%.[6] Hypertension
remains the leading cause of mortality and morbidity, and the third largest
cause of disability worldwide.[7] 7.6 million people died prematurely in 2001
alone[8] and almost one fifth of all disability adjusted life years (DALYs)
in Europe are attributed to the long-term effects of hypertension.[8] In
addition to the human cost, uncontrolled hypertension creates a huge economic
burden; the annual cardiovascular health bill is in excess of EUR190
billion.[9]

Background to SHARE

The SHARE survey responded to a White Paper published in the
Journal of Hypertension,[10] identifying a number of challenges that
prohibit hypertensive patients from achieving blood pressure goal. The White
Paper also made recommendations around raising awareness of the dangers of
uncontrolled hypertension and simplifying treatment.

The SHARE Steering Committee developed a 45 question survey
and sought the views of 2629 physicians in primary and secondary care
treating patients with hypertension. Its aim is for greater understanding of
the local day-to-day challenges that physicians face in getting their
patients to blood pressure goal, in order to develop simple and effective
solutions, and share best practice and practical solutions via the SHARE
Standalone Meeting series.

For the first time, the SHARE Steering Committee have coined
the term 'Challenging Patient' for any patient not reaching their goal blood
pressure, with a minimum target of 140/90 mmHg, to highlight a significant
yet often unrecognized group. The 'Challenging Patient' is at greater
cardiovascular risk and a greater resource burden than those whose blood
pressure is controlled.[11]

About DAIICHI SANKYO

DAIICHI SANKYO is a global pharmaceutical company that focuses
on researching and marketing innovative medications. The company was created
in 2005 through the merger of two traditional Japanese enterprises, Daiichi
and Sankyo. With net sales of nearly 7.3 billion EUR in fiscal year 2009 (as
of March 31st), DAIICHI SANKYO is one of the world's 20 leading
pharmaceutical companies. The company's world headquarters is in Tokyo, its
European base is located in Munich. DAIICHI SANKYO has affiliates in 12
European countries and has been one of the strongest Japanese pharmaceutical
companies located in Europe since it set up European production facilities
and marketing offices in 1990. The company's research activities focus on the
areas of cardiovascular diseases, hematology, anti-infectives and cancer. Its
aim is to develop medications that are "best" in their class or to create new
classes of pharmaceutical drugs.

Forward-looking statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements and
information about future developments in the sector, and the legal and
business conditions of DAIICHI SANKYO EUROPE GmbH. Such forward-looking
statements are uncertain and are subject at all times to the risks of change,
particularly to the usual risks faced by a global pharmaceutical company,
including the impact of the prices for products and raw materials, medication
safety, changes in exchange rates, government regulations, employee
relations, taxes, political instability and terrorism as well as the results
of independent demands and governmental inquiries that affect the affairs of
the company. All forward-looking statements contained in this release hold
true as of the date of publication. They do not represent any guarantee of
future performance. Actual events and developments could differ materially
from the forward-looking statements that are explicitly expressed or implied
in these statements. DAIICHI SANKYO EUROPE GmbH assumes no responsibility for
the updating of such forward-looking statements about future developments of
the sector, legal and business conditions and the company.

References

———————————

[1] Mancia G, de Backer G, Dominiczak A, et al. 2007
guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension. J Hypertens 2007; 25:
1105-1187

[2] Laurent S, Schmieder R, Koch W, et al. Investigating the
critical situation in hypertension management: physician perception and use
of the ESH-ESC treatment guidelines (SHARE survey Poster presentation ESH
17-21 June 2010.

[3] Data on file [SHARE charts for all question presentation, question 43
p162

[4] Laurent S, Schmieder R, Koch W, et al. Investigating the
critical situation in hypertension management: physician perception and use
of the ESH-ESC treatment guidelines (SHARE survey). Poster presentation ESH
17-21 June 2010.

[5] Kreutz R, Ferri C, Koch W, et al. Investigating the
critical situation in hypertension management: disparities between the
perception and reality of the burden of `Challenging Patients' (SHARE
survey). Poster presentation ESH 17-21 June 2010.

[6] Kearney PM, Whelton M, Reynolds K, et al. Worldwide
prevalence of hypertension: a systematic review. J Hypertens 2004;22:11-19

[7] Ezzati M, Lopez AD, Rodgers A, et al. Selected major risk
factors and global and regional burden of disease. Lancet 2002;360:1347-1360

[8] Lawes CM, Vander Hoorn S, Rodgers A. Global burden of
blood-pressure-related disease, 2001.Lancet 2008;371(9623):1513-8.

[9] Allender S, Scarborough P, Peto V, et al. European Heart
Network (2008) European cardiovascular disease statistics 2008. Brussels.
European Heart Network

[10] Redon J, Brunner HR, Ferri C, et al. Practical solutions
to the challenges of uncontrolled hypertension: a white paper. J Hypertens
2008;26(12):S1-S14

[11] Kreutz R, Ferri C, Koch W, et al. Investigating the
critical situation in hypertension management: disparities between the
perception and reality of the burden of `Challenging Patients' (SHARE
survey). Poster presentation ESH 17-21 June 2010.

MEDIA CONTACT: Corporate Communications & Public Affairs, Dr. Michaela Paudler-Debus, Vice Director/ Head of Product PR Europe, Phone +49(0)89/78-08-685, michaela.paudler-debus at daiichi-sankyo.eu; Medical & Scientific Affairs, Joris Versteden, Vice Director Medical and Scientific Affairs, Phone +49(0)89/78-08-497, joris.versteden at daiichi-sankyo.eu