In Silico Comparison Between Metoprolol Succinate and Bisoprolol on 24-Hour Systolic Blood Pressures

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of bisoprolol and metoprolol CR/ZOK (metoprolol succinate controlled release) on systolic blood pressure (bp(sys)) over a 24-h period in an in silico model. METHODS: On the basis of the observed data from ambulatory blood pressure measurements (ABPM), a model with an appropriate distribution and correlation structure was derived for simulation of 24-h bp(sys) patterns during treatment with commonly studied doses, assumed to be equipotent, of bisoprolol and metoprolol CR/ZOK. Input into the simulations was aligned with the available data on the diurnal efficacy and pharmacology profiles of these substances. The validity of the model was tested in a bootstrap model. RESULTS: The simulation model reproduced the observed data with high congruence (p = 1.0). The mean 24-h bp(sys) values did not significantly differ between the two simulated groups (estimated overall change in bp(sys) [∆bp(sys)] for metoprolol versus bisoprolol = 2.7 mmHg [95 % confidence interval −0.3 to 5.7 mmHg]; p = 0.08). There were clear diurnal differences, with bisoprolol being more effective earlier and metoprolol CR/ZOK being more effective later in the 24-h day. A validity test with 100 repeated samples gave an overall mean group difference of 1.4 ± 3.59 mmHg (p = 0.63 relative to simulation). CONCLUSION: In a robust model for the simulation of 24-h ABPM, comparisons between bisoprolol and metoprolol CR/ZOK indicate a comparable overall blood pressure-lowering effect but different diurnal patterns, consistent with the pharmacokinetics of the two drugs. This difference may be of clinical relevance, given the recognized diurnal pattern of cardiovascular events.