Novartis reported Tuesday at the

ACC meeting that results from a clinical study of hypertension drug Tekturna (aliskiren), in combination with standard therapy, did not demonstrate a significant benefit in reducing the heart's shape and function in post-myocardial infarction patients compared to standard therapy alone.

The 36-week ASPIRE study, which enrolled 820 patients with impaired left ventricular function following a heart attack, showed that those who received Tekturna in combination with standard therapy did experience a small numerical reduction in cardiac volume compared to those given standard therapy only, but the change was not significant.

Additionally, a higher rate of adverse events was observed in the Tekturna group .

Study presenter Scott Solomon noted that "given these results, we are not currently recommending the use of [Tekturna] in addition to other inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin system in this specific patient population."