Age-Dependent Therapeutic Effects of Once-Daily Molsidomine Used as an Add-On Treatment in Patients with Stable Angina pectoris

Abstract

Background: A once-daily 16-mg-dose formulation of molsidomine (Coruno^® tablets) was recently developed for the chronic treatment of angina pectoris. It required efficacy and safety testing. Objective: The objective of the present study was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of Coruno with that of the currently prescribed twice-daily 8-mg dose of molsidomine (Corvatard^® tablets), using them as add-on therapies in patients with stable angina pectoris aged either less or more than 75 years. Methods: 133 patients (including 55 elderly patients of at least 75 years) received molsidomine 8 mg twice daily (M8) for at least 1 month as add-on therapy before enrollment. The study itself consisted of a 1-week period during which patients went on with M8, followed by a 4-week period during which M8 was replaced by molsidomine 16 mg once daily (M16). The frequency of anginal attacks and short-acting nitroderivative consumption for symptomatic relief were measured, and the quality of life was assessed by validated questionnaires. Results: M16 significantly reduced the incidence of anginal attacks in elderly patients compared with M8. The same significant benefit was not observed in younger patients. A nonsignificant decrease in the consumption of nitroderivatives for pain relief was recorded in both age groups. From 3 weeks of treatment, M16 did not induce more drug-related adverse events than M8. It had no significant effect on blood pressure, heart rate or ECG. Conclusions: M16 was as safe and effective as M8 in controlling angina, reducing the frequency of anginal attacks even more in the elderly compared with the younger patient group.

Comparative effects of once-daily molsidomine in coronary patients from two distinct European ethnicities

“…This is in line with the results of a previous study, which showed that the induced clinical improvement with molsidomine 16 mg once daily was quantitatively larger in the more severely-in that case, elderlydisabled patients. 9,10 Compliance with molsidomine 16 mg once daily was overall excellent and quite similar in both cohorts. Incidences of AEs and drug-related AEs were not significantly different between Hungarian and Polish patients, nor between placebo and molsidomine.…”