Drug aimed at combating heart failure could save thousands of lives a year in Britain

A NEW drug aimed at combating heart failure could save thousands of lives a year in Britain, say researchers.

Entresto boosts the performance of damaged organs that no longer pump blood properly.

It was licensed for UK use earlier this year after working so well in trials they were stopped early.

Experts are confident it will have a “substantial impact” on the condition which develops when cardiac muscle is destroyed by heart attack.

The damage is behind one in 20 hospital admissions and costs the NHS about £2.3billion a year.

Sufferers face chest pain, fatigue and breathlessness and 40 per cent of the 65,000 a year diagnosed die inside 12 months.