New Drug Shows Promise in Treating Common Cause of High Blood Pressure

A groundbreaking new drug called baxdrostat has shown promise in treating a common cause of high blood pressure, potentially offering a long-term solution for millions of sufferers. According to reports, baxdrostat, an aldosterone synthase inhibitor (ASI), has been found to reduce the amount of the blood pressure-raising hormone aldosterone in patients, leading to improved blood pressure even after the medication was stopped ¹.

The drug's effectiveness was highlighted in a study where participants experienced sustained lower blood pressure for up to two years following their treatment period ¹. This finding is particularly significant because it suggests that baxdrostat could offer a more permanent fix compared to traditional treatments, which often require ongoing medication.

In addition to its immediate impact, baxdrostat also showed potential for long-term benefits. Approximately one quarter of the patients involved in the study were able to discontinue all hypertension medications while maintaining normal blood pressure levels ¹. This outcome is especially noteworthy given that standard treatment for primary aldosteronism typically involves surgical removal of the affected adrenal gland ¹.

The condition being targeted by baxdrostat, known as primary aldosteronism, is estimated to be responsible for 5 to 10 percent of high blood pressure cases ¹. This means that baxdrostat could have a substantial impact on a significant portion of the global population suffering from hypertension, which currently stands at over a billion people worldwide, including around 12 million in the UK ¹.

Baxdrostat’s mechanism of action is intriguing. It is thought to work similarly to the deletion of the gene responsible for making aldosterone in mice, which results in the disappearance of cells producing the hormone ¹. Professor Brown has proposed that baxdrostat may achieve this by causing reactive oxygen species to selectively destroy cells that overproduce aldosterone ¹.

Further evidence supporting baxdrostat’s efficacy comes from a larger trial called ELIXIR, which is investigating whether the new class of drugs known as Endocrine Axis Selective Inhibition (EASI) can provide a lasting cure for primary aldosteronism ². This trial follows 14 people treated at eight centers across the United States and has shown promising results, with participants maintaining lower hormone levels and blood pressure for up to two years after stopping the treatment ².

The potential of baxdrostat extends beyond just improving symptoms; it could also change the way primary aldosteronism is treated. With the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) currently evaluating baxdrostat for availability through the NHS, there is hope that this innovative treatment could soon become widely accessible to patients in the UK ¹.

While these findings are encouraging, further research is needed to confirm the full extent of baxdrostat’s benefits and to understand any potential side effects. The ongoing ELIXIR trial will play a crucial role in determining whether baxdrostat can indeed provide a curative effect for primary aldosteronism ¹.

What we know

• - A new drug called baxdrostat has shown potential to reverse a common cause of high blood pressure ¹
• - Patients who took baxdrostat experienced improved blood pressure for up to two years after stopping the medication ¹
• - Baxdrostat is classified as an aldosterone synthase inhibitor (ASI) that reduces the amount of blood pressure-raising hormone ¹
• - EASI involves taking a new class of drugs for 6 to 12 months to target excess production of aldosterone ²
• - After stopping the treatment, participants maintained lower hormone levels and blood pressure for up to two years ²
• - The benefits of EASI treatment persisted for up to two years after treatment ended ²
• - Approximately one quarter of the patients were able to stop all hypertension treatments and maintain normal blood pressure ¹
• - In 5 to 10 percent of high blood pressure cases, the condition is due to small nodules or benign tumors on the adrenal glands causing excessive production of aldosterone ¹
• - Standard treatment for primary aldosteronism involves surgical removal of the affected adrenal gland ¹
• - The drug received approval in the US for use in patients with uncontrolled hypertension earlier in the same year ¹
• - Nice is evaluating baxdrostat for availability through the NHS ¹
• - A small study involving 14 patients demonstrated significant improvement in hypertension during a three-month trial of baxdrostat ¹
• - A larger trial is underway to determine if baxdrostat can provide a curative effect for primary aldosteronism ¹
• - Deleting the gene responsible for making aldosterone in mice resulted in the disappearance of cells producing the hormone ¹
• - Professor Brown hypothesizes that baxdrostat may work similarly by causing reactive oxygen species to selectively destroy cells overproducing aldosterone ¹
• - The study followed 14 people treated at eight centers across the United States ²
• - Primary aldosteronism affects between 5% and 10% of high blood pressure cases ²
• - Deleting the gene responsible for producing aldosterone synthase causes aldosterone-producing cells to disappear ²
• - A larger clinical trial called ELIXIR is investigating if EASI can provide a lasting cure for primary aldosteronism ²
• - Over a billion people globally suffer from high blood pressure, including around 12 million in the UK ¹