AstraZeneca announced on Tuesday that its experimental drug baxdrostat significantly lowered blood pressure during a 24-hour monitoring period in a late-stage trial involving patients with treatment-resistant hypertension.
The company confirmed that the drug met the primary endpoint of the study, demonstrating superior efficacy compared to placebo after 12 weeks of treatment. Patients enrolled in the trial received 2 milligrams of baxdrostat or placebo, in addition to standard antihypertensive therapy.
The Anglo-Swedish drugmaker reiterated its plans to file for regulatory approval before the end of the year, projecting peak annual sales exceeding $5 billion.
Baxdrostat works by targeting the hormone aldosterone, which plays a key role in regulating blood pressure — a novel mechanism compared to traditional treatments such as diuretics and ACE inhibitors, which do not act on hormonal pathways.
Currently, the drug is being evaluated for four potential indications, including chronic kidney disease and prevention of heart failure.
Meanwhile, Mineralys Therapeutics is developing a similar aldosterone synthase inhibitor, lorundrostat, and is expected to submit its data to U.S. regulators by year-end.
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AstraZeneca acquired baxdrostat in 2023 through its purchase of CinCor Pharma, as part of a broader strategy to strengthen its cardiovascular and renal disease portfolio.