AstraZeneca announced on Monday that its investigational drug baxdrostat has demonstrated significant success in reducing high blood pressure in patients with treatment-resistant hypertension, following a late-stage clinical trial. The positive results pushed the company’s shares up by 2%, reaching £106.60, making it one of the top performers on the FTSE 100 index during early trading.
The trial results showed that baxdrostat met both primary and secondary endpoints at two different doses. Patients receiving the drug alongside standard therapy experienced a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in systolic blood pressure after 12 weeks, compared to those given a placebo.
Baxdrostat targets aldosterone, a hormone known to elevate blood pressure and contribute to cardiovascular and renal disease. By suppressing aldosterone, the drug offers a novel approach to managing hypertension, especially in cases that are difficult to treat with existing medications.
Originally developed by CinCor Pharma, baxdrostat became part of AstraZeneca’s pipeline following its acquisition of CinCor in 2023, as part of the company’s strategic push into therapies for heart and kidney diseases.
In addition to its use as an add-on therapy, baxdrostat is also being explored as a monotherapy for hypertension and in combination regimens targeting chronic kidney disease and the prevention of heart failure in high-risk patients with elevated blood pressure.
These promising findings support AstraZeneca’s broader ambition to address unmet needs in cardiovascular and renal health through innovative drug development.