Finally, the choice of agents and their respective dosages in the combination regimen are designed to enhance tolerability by minimizing the risk of dose-dependent adverse effects associated with individual agents.

Numerous clinical studies have shown that lowering blood pressure in hypertensive patients reduces mortality and morbidity (Collins R, Peto R, MacMahon S, Hebert P, Fiebach NH, Eberlein KA, Godwin J, Qizilbash N, Taylor JO, Hennekens CH, Lancet 1990, 335 (8693): 827-38). Despite the availability and use of various classes of agents in the treatment of this medical condition, adequate control of blood pressure is not always achieved (Waeber B, Brunner HR, Am J Hypertens 1997,10 (7 Pt 2): 131 S-137S). Using a combination of agents is one way to achieve the desired therapeutic end-point. An arbitrary selection of antihypertensive agents of different classes for inclusion in a combination therapy regimen does not necessarily help achieve target levels of blood pressure in hypertensive mammals including humans (MacGregor GA, Markandu ND, Banks RA, Bayliss J, Roulston JE, Jones JC, Br Med J (Clin Res Ed), 284 (6317) : 693-6). Therefore, a need for further development of methods of treatment, combinations, and pharmaceutical compositions clearly exists.

Specifically, the present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising (i) an angiotensin receptor (Type 1, ATi) blocker (ARB) selected from the group consisting of candesartan, eprosartan, irbesartan, losartan, olmesartan, saprisartan, tasosartan, telmisartan, valsartan, E-4177, SC-52458, and ZD8731, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; (ii) a calcium channel blocker (CCB) selected from the group consisting of amlodipine, felodipine, isradipine, lacidipine, nicardipine, nifedipine, niguldipine, niludipine, nimodipine, nisoldipine, nitrendipine, nivaldipine, ryosidine, anipamil, diltiazem, fendiline, flunarizine, gallopamil, mibefradil, prenylamine, tiapamil, and verapamil, and pharmaceutical acceptable salts thereof; and, (iii) a diuretic selected from the group consisting of bumetanide, ethacrynic acid, furosemide, torsemide, amiloride, spironolactone, triamterene, chlorothalidone, chlorothiazide, hydrochlorothiazide, hydroflumethiazide, methylchlorothiazide, metolazone, and dichlorphenamide, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof where appropriate, i. e. if the diuretic compound is not already present as a pharmaceutically acceptable salt as e. g. in the case of hydrochlorothiazide ; optionally in the presence of a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The invention further provides methods for treating hypertension and a variety of cardiovascular disorders enumerated below and their sequelae by administration of the pharmaceutical composition comprising (i) an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), (ii) a calcium channel blocker (CCB), (iii) and a diuretic to a mammal including humans.

Thus, the invention further relates to a pharmaceutical composition or a kit of parts, e. g. for the treatment or prevention of a condition or disease selected from the group consisting of hypertension, heart failure such as (acute and chronic) congestive heart failure, left ventricular dysfunction and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, diabetic cardiac myopathy, supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, detrimental vascular remodeling, myocardial infarction and its sequelae, atherosclerosis, angina (whether unstable or stable), renal insufficiency (diabetic and non-diabetic), heart failure, angina pectoris, diabetes, secondary aldosteronism, primary and secondary pulmonary hypertension, renal failure conditions, such as diabetic nephropathy, glomerulonephritis, scleroderma, glomerular sclerosis, proteinuria of primary renal disease, and also renal vascular hypertension, diabetic retinopathy, the management of other vascular disorders, such as migraine, peripheral vascular disease, Raynaud's disease, luminal hyperplasia, cognitive dysfunction (such as Alzheimer's), glaucoma and stroke which composition (or kit of part) comprises (i) an ARB selected from the group consisting of candesartan, eprosartan, irbesartan, losartan, olmesartan, saprisartan, tasosartan, telmisartan, valsartan, E-4177, SC- 52458, and ZD8731, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and (ii) a CCB selected from the group consisting of amlodipine, felodipine, isradipine, lacidipine, nicardipine, nifedipine, niguldipine, niludipine, nimodipine, nisoldipine, nitrendipine, nivaldipine, and ryosidine, which all belong to the group of dihydropyridines (DHPs) and the non-DHP CCBs anipamil, diltiazem, fendiline, flunarizine, gallopamil, mibefradil, prenylamine, tiapamil, and verapamil, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and (iii) a diuretic selected from the group consisting of bumetanide, ethacrynic acid, furosemide, torsemide, amiloride, spironolactone, triamterene, chlorothalidone, chlorothiazide, hydrochlorothiazide, hydroflumethiazide, methylchlorothiazide, metolazone, and dichlorphenamide, or, where appropriate, a pharmaceutical acceptable salt thereof and a pharmaceutical acceptable carrier.

A further aspect of the present invention is a method for the treatment or prevention of a condition or disease selected from the group consisting of hypertension, heart failure such as (acute and chronic) congestive heart failure, left ventricular dysfunction and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, diabetic cardiac myopathy, supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, detrimental vascular remodeling, myocardial infarction and its sequelae, atherosclerosis, angina (whether unstable or stable), renal insufficiency (diabetic and non-diabetic), heart failure, angina pectoris, diabetes, secondary aldosteronism, primary and secondary pulmonary hypertension, renal failure conditions, such as diabetic nephropathy, glomerulonephritis, scleroderma, glomerular sclerosis, proteinuria of primary renal disease, and also renal vascular hypertension, diabetic retinopathy, the management of other vascular disorders, such as migraine, peripheral vascular disease, Raynaud's disease, luminal hyperplasia, cognitive dysfunction (such as Alzheimer's), glaucoma and stroke, comprising administering a therapeutical effective amount of combination of (i) an ARB selected from the group consisting of candesartan, eprosartan, irbesartan, losartan, olmesartan, saprisartan, tasosartan, telmisartan, valsartan, E-4177, SC-52458, and ZD8731, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and (ii) a CCB selected from the group consisting of amlodipine, felodipine, isradipine, lacidipine, nicardipine, nifedipine, niguldipine, niludipine, nimodipine, nisoldipine, nitrendipine, nivaldipine, and ryosidine, which all belong to the group of dihydropyridines (DHPs) and the non-DHP CCBs anipamil, diltiazem, fendiline, flunarizine, gallopamil, mibefradil, prenylamine, tiapamil, and verapamil, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and (iii) a diuretic selected from the group consisting of bumetanide, ethacrynic acid, furosemide, torsemide, amiloride, spironolactone, triamterene, chlorothalidone, chlorothiazide, hydrochlorothiazide, hydroflumethiazide, methylchlorothiazide, metolazone, and dichlorphenamide, or, where appropriate, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier to a mammal in need of such treatment.

The invention also relates to combining separate pharmaceutical compositions in kit form.

That is a kit combining two or three separate units: e. g. a pharmaceutical composition comprising an ARB, an pharmaceutical composition comprising a CCB, and a pharmaceutical composition comprising a diuretic; or a pharmaceutical composition comprising an ARB and a diuretic, and a pharmaceutical composition comprising a CCB; or a pharmaceutical composition comprising a CCB and a diuretic, and a pharmaceutical composition comprising an ARB. Although the kit form is particularly advantageous when the separate components must be administered in different dosage forms (e. g. parenteral valsartan formulation and oral amlodipine or hydrochlorothiazide formulations) or are administered at different dosage intervals, the administration of the single components of such a kit of parts may, without any restriction be effected simultaneously, sequentially or staggered with time.

In a preferred embodiment, the (commercial) product is a commercial package comprising as active ingredients the combination according to the present invention (in the form of two or three separate units of the components (i) to (iii) ), together with instructions for its simul- taneous, separate or sequential use, or any combination thereof, in the delay of progression or treatment of the diseases mentioned herein. A preferred commercial package, is where the ARB (i) and the diuretic (iii) are present in the form of Co-DIOVAN @, or where the ACE inhibitor (i), the CCB (ii) and the diuretic (iii) are present in the form of Co-DIOVAN f) and NORVASC 0.

The pharmaceutical preparations of the present invention are for enteral, such as oral, and also rectal or parenteral, administration to homeotherms, with the preparations comprising the pharmacological active compound either alone or together with customary pharmaceutical auxiliary substances. For example, the pharmaceutical preparations consist of from about 0.1 % to 90 %, preferably of from about 1 % to about 80 %, of the active compounds. Pharmaceutical preparations for enteral or parenteral administration are, for example, in unit dose forms, such as coated tablets, tablets, capsules or suppositories and also ampoules. These are prepared in a manner, which is known per se, for example using conventional mixing, granulation, coating, solubulizing or lyophilizing processes. Thus, pharmaceutical preparations for oral use can be obtained by combining the active compounds with solid excipients, if desired granulating a mixture which has been obtained, and, if required or necessary, processing the mixture or granulate into tablets or coated tablet cores after having added suitable auxiliary substances.

The dosage of the active compound can depend on a variety of factors, such as mode of administration, homeothermic species, age and/or individual condition. Preferred dosages for the active ingredients of the pharmaceutical combination according to the present invention are therapeutical effective dosages, especially those that are commercially available. Normally, in the case of oral administration, an approximate daily dose of from about 20 mg to about 900 mg of active agents, i. e. ARB plus CCB plus diuretic, is to be estimated e. g. for a patient of approximately 75 kg in weight.

In the present invention preferred ARBs are those agents that have been marketed, as e. g. valsartan and losartan. The same applies to the CCBs employed in the present invention, of which amlodipine and felodipine are preferred. The most preferred diuretic is hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ).

Very surprisingly is the finding that, a combination of (i) an ARB, (ii) a CCB, and (iii) a diuretic and in particular a combination comprising valsartan, amlodipine and HCTZ achieves greater therapeutic effect than the administration of valsartan, amlodipine, or HCTZ alone or in a combination of two of these agents. Greater efficacy can also be documented as a prolonged duration of action. The duration of action can be monitored as either the time to return to baseline prior to the next dose or as the area under the curve (AUC) and is expressed as the product of the change in blood pressure in millimeters of mercury (change in mmHg) and the duration of the effect (minutes, hours or days). The aforementioned combination treatment also unexpectedly reduces blood pressure in hypertensive mammals in a smooth and sustained fashion. The trough: peak blood pressure ratio demonstrated by this combination is close to unity leading to a more homogenous blood pressure control during the inter-dosing period. The combined regimen is almost completely devoid of either orthostatic hypotension or first-dose hypotension, and incidences of rebound hypertension after cessation of treatment are very rare. It can be shown that combination therapy according to the invention results in lessening of pulse pressure in hypertensive mammals.

Furthermore, this combination therapy can ameliorate endothelial dysfunction and improve vascular compliance and distensibility in hypertensive mammals. It can also slow the progression of cardiac, renal and cerebral end-organ damage in these mammals. Further benefits are that lower doses of the individual drugs to be combined according to the present invention can be used to reduce the dosage, for example, that the dosages need not only often be smaller but are also applied less frequently, or can be used to diminish the incidence of side effects. Surprisingly, the combination of valsartan, amlodipine and HCTZ significantly reduce the incidences of peripheral edema relative to those observed in mammals treated with amlodipine alone. Also, the undesirable effects of HCTZ on serum lipids, glucose, and uric acid levels are surprisingly attenuated in mammals treated with the combined regimens of valsartan, amlodipine and HCTZ.

In particular the combined administration of valsartan or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, amlodipine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and HCTZ results in a significant response in a greater percentage of treated patients compared to monotherapy or combination therapy e. g. valsartan and HCTZ, that is, a greater responder rate results, regardless of the underlying etiology of the condition. This is in accordance with the desires and requirements of the patients to be treated. The combination treatment effectively lowers blood pressure in hypertensive patients in all age groups including pre and postmenopausal women. It can be shown that combination therapy with valsartan, amlodipine, and HCTZ results in a more effective antihypertensive therapy (whether for malignant, essential, reno- vascular, diabetic, isolated systolic, or other secondary type of hypertension) and lessening of pulse pressure through improved efficacy. The combination is also useful in the treatment or prevention of heart failure such as (acute and chronic) congestive heart failure, left ventricular dysfunction and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, diabetic cardiac myopathy, supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter or detrimental vascular remodeling. It can further be shown that a valsartan, amlodipine, and HCTZ combination therapy proves to be beneficial in the treatment and prevention of myocardial infarction and its sequelae. A valsartan, amlodipine, and HCTZ combination is also useful in treating atherosclerosis, angina (whether stable or unstable), renal insufficiency (diabetic and non-diabetic), peripheral vascular disease, cognitive dysfunction, and stroke.

Furthermore, the improvement in endothelial function with the combination therapy using valsartan, amlodipine, and HCTZ provides benefit in diseases in which normal endothelial function is disrupted such as heart failure, angina pectoris and diabetes. Furthermore, the combination of the present invention may be used for the treatment or prevention of secondary aldosteronism, primary and secondary pulmonary hypertension, renal failure conditions, such as diabetic nephropathy, glomerulonephritis, scleroderma, glomerular sclerosis, proteinuria of primary renal disease, and also renal vascular hypertension, diabetic retinopathy, the management of other vascular disorders, such as migraine, peripheral vascular disease, Raynaud's disease, luminal hyperplasia, cognitive dysfunction (such as Alzheimer's), glaucoma and stroke. The combination regimen also surprisingly reduces the rate of progression of cardiac, renal and cerebral end-organ damage. By providing enhanced efficacy, safety and tolerability, the combination of drugs indicated in this invention also has the potential to promote patient compliance, a major consideration in the pharmacological treatment of hypertension.

The person skilled in the pertinent art is fully enabled to select a relevant test model to prove the efficacy of a combination of the present invention in the herein before and hereinafter indicated therapeutic indications.

The advantages of the present combinations are, for example, demonstrated in a clinical study or in the test procedure as essentially described hereinafter. Many clinical study protocols adapted to test our combinations are known by the person skilled in the art.

An example of a clinical trial useful to demonstrate the unexpected advantages of our new combinations is described by Waeber B et al. (J Hypertens. 2001 Nov; 19 (11): 2097-104. The same protocol is performed with our preferred combinations such as a combination, preferably fixed-dose combination, of valsartan 80mg, hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg, and amlodipine 5 mg. This protocol is hereby incorporated into the present application by reference to this publications.

Representative studies are carried out with a combination of valsartan, amlodipine, and HCTZ applying the following methodology. Drug efficacy is assessed in various animal models including the deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt rat (DOCA-salt) and the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR), either maintained on a normal salt diet or with salt loading (4-8% salt in rat chow or 1 % NaCI as drinking water).

The DOCA-salt test model utilizes either an acute or chronic study protocol. An acute study procedure involves assessment of the effects of various test substances over a six-hour experimental period using rats with indwelling femoral arterial and venous catheters. The Acute Study Procedure evaluates test substances for their ability to reduce blood pressure during the established phase of DOCA-salt hypertension. In contrast, the Chronic Study Procedure assesses the ability of test substances to prevent or delay the rise in blood pressure during the development phase of DOCA-salt hypertension. Therefore, blood pressure will be monitored in the chronic study procedure by means of a radiotransmitter.

The radiotransmitter is surgically implanted into the abdominal aorta of rats, prior to the initiation of DOCA-salt treatment and thus, prior to the induction of hypertension. Blood pressure is chronically monitored for periods of up 6 weeks (approximately one week prior to DOCA-salt administration and for 5 weeks thereafter).

Rats are anesthetized with 2-3% isoflurane in oxygen inhalant followed by Amytal sodium (amobarbital) 100 mg/kg, ip. The level of anesthesia is assessed by a steady rhythmic breathing pattern.

Acute study procedure: Rats undergo a unilateral nephrectomy at the time of DOCA implantation. Hair is clipped on the left flank and the back of the neck and scrubbed with sterile alcohol swabs and povidone/iodine. During surgery rats are placed on a heating pad to maintain body temperature at 37 °C.

A 20 mm incision is made through the skin and underlying muscle to expose the left kidney.

The kidney is freed of surrounding tissue, exteriorized and two ligatures (3-0 silk) are tied securely around the renal artery and vein proximal to their juncture with the aorta. The renal artery and vein are then severed and the kidney removed. The muscle and skin wounds are closed with 4-0 silk suture and stainless steel wound clips, respectively. At the same time, a 15 mm incision is made on the back of the neck and a 3-week-release pellet (Innovative Research of America, Sarasota, Florida) containing deoxycorticosterone acetate (100 mg/kg) is implanted subcutaneously. The wound is then closed with stainless-steel clips and both wounds are treated with povidone/iodine; the rats are given a post-surgical intramuscular injection of procaine penicillin G (100,000 U) and buprenorphine (0.05-0. 1 mg/kg) s. c. The rats are immediately placed on 1 % NaCI + 0.2% KCI drinking water; this treatment continues for at least 3 weeks at which time the animals have become hypertensive and available for experimentation.

Forty-eight hours prior to experimentation, animals are anesthetized with isoflurane and catheters are implanted in the femoral artery and vein for measuring arterial pressure, collection of blood, and administration of test compounds. Rats are allowed to recover for 48 hours while tethered in a Plexiglas home cage, which also serves as the experimental chamber.

Chronic study procedure: This procedure is the same as above except that rats are implanted with a radiotransmitter, 7-10 days prior to the unilateral nephrectomy and initiation of DOCA and salt. In addition, rats do not undergo surgery for placement of femoral arterial and venous catheters.

Radiotransmitters are implanted as described in M. K. Bazil, C. Krulan and R. L. Webb.

Telemetric monitoring of cardiovascular parameters in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats. J. Cardiovasc. Pharmacol. 22: 897-905,1993.

Protocols are then set-up on the computer for measurement of blood pressure, heart rate, etc, at predetermined time points. Baseline data is collected at various time points and over various time intervals. For example, baseline or pre-dose values usually consist of data collection and averaging over 3 consecutive, 24-hour time periods prior to drug administration.

Blood pressure, heart rate and activity are determined at various pre-selected time points before, during, and after drug administration. All measurements are performed in unrestrained and undisturbed animals. The maximum study time, determined by battery life, could be as long as nine months. For studies of this duration, rats are dosed orally (1-3 ml/kg vehicle), no more than twice daily or drug is administered via the drinking water or mixed with food. For studies of a shorter duration, that is, up to 8 weeks, drugs are given via subcutaneously implanted osmotic minipumps. Osmotic minipumps are selected based on drug delivery rate and time. Valsartan dosages range from 1 to 100 mg/kg/day, amlodipine dosages range from 1 to 75 mg/kg/day, and HCTZ dosages range from 1 to 75 mg/kg/day.

Additionally, SHR are utilized to study the effects of valsartan in combination with amlodipine, and HCTZ. The hypertensive background of the SHR is modified either by chronic salt loading in an effort to suppress the RAAS or chronic salt depletion to activate the RAAS in the SHR. These manipulations will be carried out to more extensively evaluate the efficacy of the various test substances. Experiments are performed in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) supplied by Taconic Farms, Germantown, New York (Tac: N (SHR) fBR). A radiotelemetric device (Data Sciences International, Inc., St. Paul, Minnesota) is implanted into the lower abdominal aorta of all test animals between the ages of 14 to 16 weeks of age. All SHR are allowed to recover from the surgical implantation procedure for at least 2 weeks prior to the initiation of the experiments. Cardiovascular parameters are continuously monitored via the radiotransmitter and transmitted to a receiver where the digitized signal is then collected and stored using a computerized data acquisition system. Blood pressure (mean arterial, systolic and diastolic pressure) and heart rate are monitored in conscious, freely moving and undisturbed SHR in their home cages. The arterial blood pressure and heart rate are measured every 10 minutes for 10 seconds and recorded. Data reported for each rat represent the mean values averaged over a 24 hour period and are made up of the 144-10 minute samples collected each day. The baseline values for blood pressure and heart rate consist of the average of three consecutive 24 hour readings taken prior to initiating the drug treatments. All rats are individually housed in a temperature and humidity controlled room and are maintained on a 12 hour light dark cycle.

In addition to the cardiovascular parameters, weekly determinations of body weight also are recorded in all rats. Treatments are administered in the drinking water, via daily oral gavage or in osmotic minipumps as stated above. If given in drinking water, water consumption is measured five times per week. Valsartan, amlodipine, and HCTZ doses for individual rats are then calculated based on water consumption for each rat, the concentration of drug substance in the drinking water, and individual body weights. All drug solutions in the drinking water are made up fresh every three to four days. Typical dosages for valsartan in drinking water range from 1 to 100 mg/kg/day, dosages of amlodipine range from 1 to 75 mg/kg/day, and dosages of HCTZ range from 1 to 75 mg/kg/day. In most situations, a daily dose will not exceed 100 mg/kg/day when administered as the monotherapy. In combination, lower dosages of each agent are used and correspondingly, valsartan is given in the range of 1 to 30 mg/kg/day, and amlodipine and HCTZ are give in dosages below 50 mg/kg/day.

When drugs are administered by oral gavage, the dose of valsartan ranges from 1 to 50 mg/kg/day and that of amlodipine and HCTZ does not exceed 75 mg/kg/day, respectively.

Upon completion of the chronic studies, SHR or DOCA-salt rats are anesthetized, blood samples obtained for biochemical analysis and the heart rapidly removed. After separation and removal of the atrial appendages, left ventricle and left plus right ventricle (total) are weighed and recorded. Left ventricular and total ventricular mass are then normalized to body weight and reported.

Vascular function and structure are evaluated after treatment to assess the beneficial effects of the combination. SHR are studied according to the methods described by lntengan HD, Thibault G, Li JS, Schiffrin EL, Circulation 1999,100 (22): 2267-2275. Similarly, the methodology for assessing vascular function in DOCA-salt rats is described in Intengan HD, Park JB, Schiffrin, EL, Hypertension, 1999,34 (4 Part 2): 907-913. Assessment of vascular compliance and distensibility following treatment with the combination regimen is performed according to the methods described by Ceiler DL, Nelissen-Vrancken HJ, De Mey JG, Smits JF, J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 1998,31 (4): 630-7. Amelioration of cardiac, renal, and cerebral injury secondary to hypertension is assessed after treatment with the combination regimen in salt-loaded stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats according to the methods described by Nagura J, Yamamoto M, Hui C, Yasuda S, Hachisu M, Konno F, Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 1996,23 (3): 229-35. Propensity of the combination therapy to elicit postural or orthostatic hypotension is assessed in SHRs by the methods described by Nabata H, Aono J, Ishizuka N, Sakai K, Arch Int Pharmacodyn Ther 1985, 277 (1) : 104-18.

Tendency to produce peripheral edema by the combination regimen was assessed by the methods described by Lacolley P, Poitevin P, Koen R, Levy Bl, J Hypertens 1998,16 (3): 349- 55.

Valsartan is supplied in the form of suitable dosage unit form, for example, a capsule or tablet, and comprising a therapeutically effective amount, e. g. from about 20 to about 320 or 640 mg, of valsartan which may be applied to patients. The application of the active ingredient may occur up to three times a day, starting e. g. with a daily dose of 20 mg or 40 mg of valsartan, increasing via 80 mg daily and further to 160 mg daily up to 320 or 640 mg daily. Preferably, valsartan is applied once a day or twice a day in heart failure patients with a dose of 80 mg or 160 mg, respectively, each. Corresponding doses may be taken, for example, in the morning, at mid-day or in the evening. Preferred is q. d. or b. i. d. administration in heart failure.

In case of amlodipine, preferred dosage unit forms are, for example, tablets or capsules comprising e. g. from about 1 mg to about 60 mg, preferably 2.5 to 20 mg, more preferably between 2.5 and 10 mg daily when administered orally.

In case of HCTZ, preferred dosage unit forms are, for example, tablets or capsules comprising e. g. from about 5 mg to about 200 mg preferably from about 50 mg to about 150 mg, even more preferably from about 25 mg to about 100 mg and even more preferably from about 5 mg to about 25 mg, administered orally once a day.

An example of a preferred composition, comprises an amount of Valsartan between 60 and 100 mg e. g. 80 mg, an amount of amlodipine between 2 and 12 mg e. g. 2.5 or 5 mg and an amount of HCTZ between 8 and 16 mg e. g. 12.5 mg.

Another example of a preferred composition, comprises an amount of Valsartan between 140 and 180 mg e. g. 160 mg, an amount of amlodipine between 2 and 12 mg e. g. 2.5 or 5 or 10 mg and an amount of HCTZ between 8 and 16 mg e. g. 12.5 mg.

Another example of a preferred composition comprises an amount of Valsartan between 140 and 180 mg e. g. 160 mg, an amount of amlodipine between 4 and 12 mg e. g. 5 mg or 10 mg, and an amount of HCTZ between 20 and 30 mg e. g. 25 mg.

The combination of (i) an ARB, (ii) a CCB, and (iii) a diuretic may, according to the present invention be manufactured and administered in free or fixed dose combinations of the respective pharmaceutically active agents. It may be advantageous to begin the treatment with free combinations that allow an easy adjustment of the administered dose of each individual agent. When the ideal dose regimen, which generally is dependent on the specific condition of the individual to be treated, the individuals weight, other medication administered to the individual and the like, is reached, a fixed dose combination may be administered in case where an administration once a day or e. g. twice or three times daily is possible and a sufficient control of blood pressure is achieved.

Presently it is preferred to combine two of the components (i) to (iii) and administer the third separately at the same or at a different time.

Valsartan is being marketed under the trade name Diovan@. A combination of valsartan and HCTZ is being marketed under the trade name Co-Diovanf) and amlodipine is being marketed under the trade name NorvascQ). All of these marketed products may be utilized in as such for combination therapy according to the present invention.

The following examples illustrate the invention described above and are not intended to restrict the scope of this invention in any way.

Formulation Example 1: Composition and batch quantities for Diovan tablets Components COMPOSITION PER UNIT(mg) QUANTITY PER BATCH (kg) Granulation 40mg 80mg 160mg 320mg | 40mg 80mg 160mg 320mg Diovan Drug Substance 40.000 80.000 160.000 320.000 144. 000 144.000 144. 000 144.000 Microcrystalline 27.000 54.000 108.000 216.000 97.200 97.200 97.200 97. 200 Cellulose (NF, Ph. Eur.) Avicel PH102 Crospovidone (NF,Ph.Eur.) 7.500 15.000 30.000 60.000 27.000 27.000 27.000 27.000 Colloidal Anhydrous Silica 0. 750 1.500 3.000 6.000 2.700 2.700 2.700 2.700 (Ph. Eur.)/Colloidal silicon Dioxide (NF)/Aerosil 200 Magnesium Stearate 1.500 3.000 6.000 12.000 5.400 5.400 5.400 5.400 (NF, Ph. Eur.) Blending Magnesium Stearate 0.750 1.500 3.000 6.000 2. 700 2.700 2.700 2.700 (NF, Ph. Eur.) Coating DIOLACK Gelb F32892 2. 800 11. 0902 DIOLACK Blassrot F34899 6. 000 12. 4203 DIOLACK Hellbraun 9.000 9. 7204 F33172 DIOLACK Braun F16711 16. 000 8. 6404 Purified Water 62.843 70.380 55.080 48. 960 Total TableVBatch Weight 80.300 161.000 319.000 636. 000 289. 080 289. 800 287. 100 286. 200 tA total of 2 subdivisions of granulation per batch 2A 10% excess of coating solution was manufactured to account for loss during coating.

3A 15% excess of coating solution was manufactured to account for loss during coating.

4A 20% excess of coating solution was manufactured to account for loss during coating.

Composition of Diolack DIOLACK HPMC PEG 8000 Titanium Iron Oxide Iron Oxide Iron Oxide Iron Oxide USP/Ph. Eur USP/Ph. Eur. Dioxide (Red) (Yellow) (Brown) (Black) (603) (White) Ph. Fr./NF/ Ph. Fr./NF/ Mixture of iron E172/CFR/ USP/Ph. Eur E172/CFR/ E172/CFR/ oxide red & Cl 77499 Cl 77491 Cl 77492 black Gelb 80. 00 % 4. 00 % 13. 48 % 0. 01 % 2. 50 % - 0.01 % F32892 Blassrot 80. 00 % 4. 00 % 15. 50 % 0. 40 % 0. 10 % _ _ F34899 hellbraun 80. 00 % 4. 00 % 9. 34 % 0. 25 % 6. 40 % - 0.01 % F33172 Braun 80. 00 % 4. 00 % 14. 00 % 0. 50 % 0. 50 % 0. 50 % 0. 50 % F16711 A mixture of Diovan drug substance, microcrystalline cellulose, crospovidone, part of the colloidal anhydrous silica/colloidal silicon dioxide/Aerosile 200, silicon dioxide and magnesium stearate is premixed in a diffusion mixer and then sieved through a screening mill. The resulting mixture is again pre-mixed in a diffusion mixer, compacted in a roller compacter and then sieved through a screening mill. To the resulting mixture, the rest of the colloidal anhydrous silica/colloidal silicon dioxide/Aerosile 200 are added and the final blend is made in a diffusion mixer. The whole mixture is compressed in a rotary tabletting machine and the tablets are coated with a film by using the appropriate composition of Diolack in a perforated pan.

Formulation Example 2: Composition and quantities for Co-Diovan# tablets Components COMPOSITION PER COMPOSITION PER COMPOSITION PER UNIT m UNIT m UNIT m Diovan Drug Substance 80. 000 160. 000 160. 00 Esidrex Drug Substance 12. 500 12. 500 25. 00 (micro) Microcrystalline Cellulose 31. 500 75. 500 63. 00 (NF, Ph. Eur.)/ Avicel PH 102 Crospovidone (NF, 20. 000 40. 000 40. 00 Ph. Eur.) Colloidal Anhydrous Silica 1. 500 3. 00 3. 00 (Ph. Eur.)/Colloidal Silicon Dioxide (NF)/Aerosil 200 Magnesium Stearate (NF, 3. 000 6. 000 6. 00 Ph. Eur.) S = Magnesium Stearate, NF, 1. 500 3. 000 3. 00 Ph. Eur. O ad Black OOF17713--0. 096 Opadry Red OOF15613 0. 762 Opadry Yellow OOF12951 3. 808 Opadry White OOF18296 5. 334 Hydroxy propyl 2. 76 5. 510 Methylcellulose Iron Oxide Yellow 0. 025 Iron Oxide Red 0. 025 0. 750 Polyethylene Glycol 8000 0. 50 1. 000 Talc 2. 000 3. 990 Titanium Dioxide 0. 70 0. 750- Total Tablet/Batch Weight 156. 000 312. 000 310. 00 Composition of Opadry OPADRY HPMC PEG 4000 Talc Titanium Iron Oxide Iron Oxide IronOxide USP/Ph. Eur USP/Ph. Eur. USP/Ph. Eur Dioxide (Red) (Yellow) (Black) (603) USP/Ph. Eur Ph. Fr./NF/ Ph. FrJNF/ E172/CFR/ (White) E172/CFR/ E172/CFR/ Cl 77499 Cl 77491 Cl 77492 Opadry White 71.4% 7. 15 % 7. 15 % 14. 3 % - - - OOF18296* Opadry Red 71. 4% 7. 15 % 7. 15% - 14.3% - - OOF15613* Opadry Red 71. 4% 7. 15 % 7. 15 % - - 14.3 % - OOF15613* Opadry Black 71. 4 % 7. 15 % 7. 15 % - - - 14.3 % OOF17713* A mixture of Diovan drug substance, Esidrex drug substance (micro), microcrystalline cellulose, crospovidone, colloidal anhydrous silica/Aerosil 200 and part of the magnesium stearate is premixed in a diffusion mixer and then sieve through a screening mill. The resulting mixture is again pre-mixed in a diffusion mixer, compacted in a roller compacter and then sieved through a screening mill. The final blend is made in a diffusion mixer under addition of the remaining part of the magnesium stearate, which is hand screened before.

The whole mixture is compressed in a rotary tabletting machine and the tablets are coated with a film by using the appropriate composition of Opadry in a perforated pan.

Formulation Example 3: Composition and quantities for a combination of valsartan and amlodipine r Components COMPOSITION PER COMPOSITION (%) UNIT m Diovan Drug Substance 80. 00 43. 02 Amlodipine Drug 6. 94 3. 73 Substance Avicel 102 (I) 54. 00 29. 04 Avicel 102 ())) 20. 00 10. 76 Crospovidone (1) 15. 00 8. 07 Cros ovidone II 4. 0 2. 15 Cab-O-Sil 1. 50 0. 81 Magnesium Stearate (I) 3. 00 1. 61 Magnesium Stearate II 1. 50 0. 81 185. 94 100. 00 The tablet is manufactured e. g essentially as described in Formulation Example 1.