Interaction Review

Good morning, Dr. Walsh. Thank you for taking the time today. I know your schedule at the cardiology practice is packed, so I really appreciate it.

Of course, Sarah. You mentioned you had some new data on Veloratine? I've been curious since we last spoke about it.

Absolutely. Before I share that, I wanted to understand how things have been going with your treatment-resistant hypertension patients. Are you still seeing a gap in outcomes for those who haven't responded to triple therapy?

Yes, definitely. I have about fifteen patients right now who are on max-dose ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, and diuretics, and we're still not getting them below 140 systolic. It's frustrating.

That's exactly the patient population where Veloratine has shown the most promise. Let me walk you through the latest data.

The VELOCITY trial showed a 32% reduction in systolic blood pressure compared to placebo at 24 weeks in patients who had failed at least three antihypertensive classes. The median reduction was 28 mmHg from baseline.

That's impressive, but what about the safety profile? I've been concerned about the renal effects that some newer agents in this space have shown.

Great question. In the VELOCITY trial, the incidence of renal adverse events was 3.2% versus 2.8% in the placebo group, so very comparable. However, it's important to note that Veloratine is contraindicated in patients with eGFR below 30, and regular renal monitoring is recommended per the prescribing information.

Good to know. And how does it fit with existing regimens? Can I add it on top of what my patients are already taking?

Yes, Veloratine is approved as add-on therapy. In the trial, 87% of patients maintained their existing antihypertensive regimen. The most common combination was with amlodipine and lisinopril.

What about cost? That's always a concern for my patients, especially those on Medicare.

We have a comprehensive patient savings program. For commercially insured patients, the copay can be as low as $25 per month. For Medicare patients, I can connect you with our patient support team who can help navigate coverage options.

That's helpful. I think I'd like to try it with a few patients first. Can you send me the prescribing information and the patient enrollment forms?

Absolutely, I'll send those over right after our call. Would it also be helpful to schedule a follow-up in about four weeks to see how those initial patients are responding?

Yes, let's do that. I appreciate the thorough overview, Sarah. This looks like it could be a good option for some of my harder-to-treat patients.