Ecazide - referral
Current status
ReferralHuman
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Captopril is a highly specific, competitive inhibitor of angiotensin-I converting enzyme, belonging to the category of ACE inhibitors. Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic. Hydrochlorothiazide has been widely used as an antihypertensive agent and captopril has also been indicated in the treatment of hypertension, among others. The addition of a thiazide diuretic to an ACE inhibitor produces at least an additive antihypertensive effect. The combination product captopril/ hydrochlorothiazide got the first national authorisation in 1984 and has since been registered in all EU countries in the second line treatment of hypertension, i.e. in patients who did not respond sufficiently to monotherapy.
From the registrations in Member States, different Summaries of Product Characteristics have been issued, based on national, divergent decisions. On 24 August 2000, France presented to the EMEA a referral under Article 30 of Directive 2001/83/EC1.
The referral procedure started on 1 March 2001 in order to harmonise the Summaries of Product Characteristics (SPC) within the Member States and Norway and Iceland. The CPMP having considered the Rapporteur and the Co-Rapporteur assessment reports, scientific discussion within the Committee and comments from the Marketing Authorisation Holders, was of the opinion that the benefit/risk ratio of captopril/hydrochlorothiazide is considered to be favourable for the agreed indications. The CPMP issued a positive opinion, on 25 April 2002, recommending the harmonisation of the SPC for Ecazide and associated names. The grounds for referral are appended to this report.
An overall summary of the scientific evaluation is provided together with the amended summary of product characteristics.
A Decision was issued by the European Commission on 22 August 2002.
1 Corresponding to Article 11 of Directive 75/319/EEC, for referrals presented before 18 December 2001
This type of referral is triggered when Member States have adopted different decisions over the years for some medicines (e.g. different indications, contraindications or posology) and there is a need to harmonise across the EU.
Description of documents published
Please note that some of the listed documents apply only to certain procedures.
Note that older documents may have different titles.