A new drug called baxdrostat is showing strong potential in helping people with high blood pressure that is difficult to treat.
In a recent study, the drug lowered blood pressure and may also help protect the kidneys.
Baxdrostat works by lowering the amount of a hormone called aldosterone. This hormone can raise blood pressure by making the body hold onto too much salt. It can also damage the kidneys over time. Unlike current medications, baxdrostat stops the body from making aldosterone in the first place.
In a clinical trial with nearly 200 people, baxdrostat lowered blood pressure more than standard treatments. On average, blood pressure dropped by 8.1 mm Hg more than in the control group.
Researchers also looked at kidney health by checking a protein in urine called albumin. High levels of this protein mean the kidneys are not working well. After 6 months, people taking baxdrostat had less than half as much albumin in their urine as those who got regular treatment. This suggests their kidneys were healthier.
High blood pressure is the top cause of chronic kidney disease, a condition that affects 1 in 7 adults in the U.S. Most people with kidney disease can’t reverse the damage. Baxdrostat could change that by treating both high blood pressure and kidney problems at the same time.
A larger trial is now underway to confirm how well baxdrostat protects the kidneys. Experts say this drug could be a ‘game changer’ for people whose high blood pressure doesn’t improve with other medicines.
The study is published in Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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