Polypill 'halves heart attack rate'

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The research in India involved more than 2,000 people aged 45 to 80 and was the most comprehensive study yet of the controversial "magic bullet" pill.

Scientists compared Polycap, a five-drug polypill, with combinations of its different components to assess effectiveness and safety.

They concluded that if the pill was given to a population of healthy adults with at least one risk factor, such as raised blood pressure, obesity or smoking, it could slash the number of heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular events by half.

Although the researchers did not look at death rates, an effect of this size could result in thousands of saved British lives.

Each year almost 200,000 Britons are killed by heart and artery disease. A fifth of all deaths before the age of 75 in men and 10% of those in women are due to cardiovascular disease.

Since the study looked at a relatively low risk population, it suggests that the polypill might have a significantly bigger impact in practice. Another important finding was that the pill was well tolerated and caused no unpleasant side effects.

Polycap contains a cholesterol-lowering statin, aspirin to combat clotting, and three blood pressure-lowering drugs.

Professor Malcolm Law, from the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine in London, said: "We have long advocated the polypill as a safe and effective way of greatly reducing the incidence of heart attacks and strokes in the population.

"This study shows that it's possible to make such a product that is effective and doesn't have adverse side effects."