Landmark Research Heralds New Era in Dog Heart Treatment and Longer Life for Dogs

Ingelheim, Germany (ots/PRNewswire) -

- For Non-US Healthcare Media

- Global QUEST Study Reveals Dogs With Congestive Heart Failure
Have Significantly Improved Survival Outcomes With Vetmedin(R)
(pimobendan)

Veterinarians and dog owners are today welcoming new research
that delivers the promise of an extended happy life together for
millions of dog owners and their pets. The three-year study
demonstrates that dogs suffering from the most common type of heart
failure live on average 91% (267 days vs. 140 days) longer when
treated with the product Vetmedin(R) (pimobendan) compared with
another common treatment option(1).

To view the Multimedia News Release, go to:
http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/boehringeringelheim/34774/

Results from the QUEST (Quality of Life and Extension of Survival
Time) study, published in the current issue of the Journal of
Veterinary Internal Medicine, mark a significant milestone in canine
cardiac health. Experts report that 25% of all small to medium-sized
dogs over the age of seven are likely to suffer from heart disease at
some point in their life(2), and 75% of those cases are caused by
myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD)(3), sometimes known as
"valvular insufficiency" or "endocardiosis".

Adrian Boswood from the Royal Veterinary College, London, a
Veterinary Cardiology Specialist and a lead-investigator on the
study, explains that the independent QUEST trial set out to explore
the impact on survival of Vetmedin(R) versus another current
treatment, benazepril hydrochloride, an angiotensin-converting enzyme
(ACE) inhibitor.

"With QUEST demonstrating that dogs treated with Vetmedin(R) live
on average nearly twice as long as those on benazepril(1), it is now
time for us as veterinary cardiologists and practising veterinarians
to look again at how we are treating our patients suffering from this
serious condition."

Dr. Michael O'Grady from the Ontario Veterinary College,
University of Guelph, a fellow lead-investigator added, "The QUEST
study provides compelling evidence that dogs with the most common
form of heart failure should be receiving Vetmedin(R) as an essential
part of their treatment regimen."

QUEST is the largest international study ever conducted looking
at treatment for congestive heart failure (CHF) caused by MMVD, with
260 dogs studied in 11 countries, across three continents, over a
period of three years.

The study was conducted by a team of 32 independent veterinary
cardiologists from Australia, Canada, France, Germany and the United
Kingdom among other countries.

CHF caused by MMVD most commonly affects older, small breed dogs,
including Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Poodles, Chihuahuas and
Dachshunds.(3)

Symptoms of this form of heart failure that dog owners should
look for include coughing, reduced tolerance for exercise, anxiety
and restlessness during the night, and laboured breathing.(3) If
these symptoms are present, it is important that dog owners take
their pets to their veterinarians for assessment and treatment.

"Dog owners should be encouraged by the results of the QUEST
study, as it demonstrates an important treatment option for
lengthening a dog's life when it has this common, debilitating and
life-threatening heart condition," said Jens Häggström, Professor of
Veterinary Internal Medicine, University of Uppsala and the other
lead-investigator on the trial.

Owners now have new information regarding the best chance for
enjoying the maximum time possible with their dogs suffering from the
most common cause of heart failure.

"With our dogs being so important to our families, we owners
should do all we can to make sure our pets are receiving the most
effective treatment", said Sally Copland, owner of Fern, an
eight-year-old King Charles Spaniel being treated with Vetmedin(R).
"None of us want our pets' lives unnecessarily cut short," she added.

The full QUEST study results, providing hard evidence about the
importance of using Vetmedin, appear in the September/October 2008
issue of the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

For more information on the QUEST study and on CHF caused by
MMVD, please visit http://www.questtrial.com

Boehringer Ingelheim

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health and Boehringer Ingelheim
Vetmedica belong to the Boehringer Ingelheim group of companies. The
Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the world's 20 leading
pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, it
operates globally with 135 affiliates in 47 countries and 39,800
employees. Since it was founded in 1885, the family-owned company has
been committed to researching, developing, manufacturing and
marketing novel products of high therapeutic value for human and
veterinary medicine.

In 2007, Boehringer Ingelheim posted net sales of almost 11
billion euro while spending one fifth of net sales in its largest
business segment, Prescription Medicines, on research and
development.

The animal health business is conducted in more than 20 countries
including USA, Canada, France, Germany, UK, Italy, Spain, Mexico, the
Nordic countries Japan and China. Since 1955, Boehringer Ingelheim
Animal Health is contributing to an adequate supply of safe,
nutritious food and is promoting the emotional and physical benefits
arising from the human-animal bond.

For more information, please visit
http://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com

---------------------------------

References

(1) Häggström J, Boswood A, O'Grady M et al. Effect of Pimobendan
or Benazepril Hydrochloride on Survival Times in Dogs with Congestive
Heart Failure Caused by Naturally Occurring Myxomatous Mitral Valve
Disease: The QUEST Study. J Vet Intern Med. 2008;22(5).

(2) Evans T, Johnson C, Wernham J. Cardiovascular Insight: A
global study of category prospects. Wood Mackenzie. July 2007.

(3) Häggström J, Kvart C and Pedersen H. "Acquired valvular heart
disease" in Ettinger SJ, Feldman EC (Eds). Textbook of veterinary
internal medicine: diseases of the dog and cat. 2005 (6th edition).

ots Originaltext: Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
Contacts: Philip Sheldon, Red Door Communications, Phone:
+44-208-392-8093, Email: psheldon@rdcomms.com; Rikki Jones, Red Door
Communications, Phone: +44-208-392-8062, Email: rjones@rdcomms.com;
Julia Meyer-Kleinmann, Head Science & Technology Communications,
Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, 55216 Ingelheim/Germany, Phone:
+49-6132-77-8271, Fax: +49-6132-77-7077, E-mail:
press@boehringeringelheim.com. Veterinary cardiology experts in the
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angela.hinchley@spinifexcommunications.com.au; Canada: Cristiane
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