New approach to treat hard-to-control high blood pressure

A new experimental drug called baxdrostat has shown promising results in clinical trials for treating high blood pressure that is difficult to control. The drug, developed by AstraZeneca, is being hailed as a potential “game-changer” for millions of people worldwide who do not respond well to existing medications.

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A New Approach to an Old Problem

Baxdrostat represents a novel approach to managing hypertension. Unlike many current blood pressure medications, it doesn’t target blood vessels directly. Instead, it works by blocking an enzyme that produces aldosterone, a hormone made in the adrenal glands. In some people, an overproduction of aldosterone causes the body to retain too much salt and water, which in turn elevates blood pressure. By inhibiting the synthesis of this hormone, baxdrostat addresses a key underlying cause of high blood pressure in patients with uncontrolled or resistant hypertension.

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Clinical Trial Results

The findings of the Phase III BaxHTN trial, which involved nearly 800 patients, were presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Madrid and published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

• Significant Reduction: Patients who took a daily dose of baxdrostat saw their systolic blood pressure drop by an average of 9-10 mmHg more than those who received a placebo. This reduction is clinically significant, as even a 5 mmHg drop can substantially lower the risk of cardiovascular events like heart attack and stroke.
• Effectiveness: Approximately four out of every ten patients on baxdrostat achieved healthy blood pressure levels, compared to fewer than two out of ten in the placebo group.
• Safety Profile: The drug was generally well-tolerated with mild side effects. The most common adverse effect was a rare abnormality in potassium and sodium levels, which were manageable. Notably, no patients had to discontinue the trial due to hyperkalemia (high potassium levels), a common side effect of some older aldosterone-targeting drugs.

AstraZeneca plans to submit baxdrostat for regulatory approval in the coming months, offering a new hope for a condition that affects over 1.3 billion people globally.