Single-pill combinations Diovan HCT and Exforge approved in US as first-line treatments for high blood pressure

• Approvals consistent with current US treatment guidelines to start appropriate patients on combination therapies
• Up to 80% of patients may need multiple medications to help them reach blood pressure goals
• Single-pill combinations offer effective, convenient medications which could help patients reach treatment goals faster
• Diovan HCT and Exforge approvals may benefit patients who are likely to need multiple medications to achieve blood pressure goals
• High blood pressure is one of the most important but treatable risk factors for cardiovascular disease – the world’s leading cause of death

East Hanover, NJ, August 4, 2008 — The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two single-pill combination medications, Diovan HCT^® (valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide) and Exforge^® (amlodipine and valsartan), as initial or ‘first-line’ therapies in patients likely to need multiple drugs to achieve their blood pressure goals.