Pharmacological profiles and clinical effects of olmesartan medoxomil, a novel angiotensin II receptor blocker

Olmesartan medoxomil is a new angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) indicated for the treatment of hypertension. Olmesartan medoxomil is a pro-drug that is converted to the active metabolite olmesartan. Olmesartan does not undergo further metabolism and does not interact with cytochrome P450 enzymes. Olmesartan is a potent ARB with high selectivity for the type 1 (AT(1)) receptor subtype and shows insurmountable antagonism against the AT(1) receptor in vascular tissues. This antagonistic mode, which could be attributed to tight binding of this drug to the receptor, would underlie the potent and persistent action of olmesartan medoxomil in vivo. In fact, oral administration of olmesartan medoxomil produces a potent and long-lasting antihypertensive action without inducing tachycardia. The preventive effects of olmesartan medoxomil on end-organ damage in the kidney, heart, and blood vessels have been demonstrated in various animal models. In clinical studies, olmesartan medoxomil is shown to be well tolerated and have an excellent safety profile that is comparable to that of placebo. Head-to-head comparisons with other ARBs (losartan, valsartan, irbesartan, and candesartan cilexetil) conducted in the United States and Europe have revealed that olmesartan medoxomil is superior to these other ARBs in lowering blood pressure. These facts suggest that olmesartan medoxomil would be beneficial for the treatment of hypertension and other end-organ diseases.