High blood pressure and kidney disease are two serious health problems that often occur together. When they appear at the same time, they can make each other worse and create a dangerous cycle in the body.
A new experimental drug called baxdrostat may help break this cycle, according to early research presented at the American Heart Association’s Hypertension Scientific Sessions 2025. The study was also published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Chronic kidney disease affects millions of people around the world. The kidneys play an important role in the body. They filter waste and extra fluids from the blood, help control blood pressure, and maintain the balance of important minerals.
When the kidneys become damaged, these functions slowly weaken. Over time, waste products and fluids can build up in the body, which can lead to serious health complications.
High blood pressure is one of the most common causes of kidney damage. When blood pressure stays high for many years, it puts extra force on the blood vessels in the kidneys. This pressure can damage the delicate filtering structures inside the organs.
At the same time, when the kidneys do not work properly, they can cause blood pressure to rise even further. Because of this connection, many people with kidney disease struggle to control their blood pressure even when they take medication.
One hormone that plays a major role in both conditions is called aldosterone. This hormone tells the body to hold on to sodium and water. While this process can help regulate fluid levels, too much aldosterone can raise blood pressure. Over time, high levels of this hormone can also damage blood vessels and lead to scarring in the kidneys.
The new drug baxdrostat was designed to block the production of aldosterone. By lowering this hormone, scientists hope the drug can reduce blood pressure and protect the kidneys at the same time.
The recent study aimed to see whether baxdrostat could safely lower blood pressure in people whose hypertension remained uncontrolled even while taking strong medications.
The researchers studied people who had both chronic kidney disease and high blood pressure that was not responding well to standard treatments.
Most of these participants were already taking medications such as ACE inhibitors or ARBs. These drugs are commonly used to control blood pressure and protect the kidneys, but they do not always work well enough on their own.
At the beginning of the study, participants had an average systolic blood pressure of 151. This top number in a blood pressure reading represents the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats. A value above 140 is generally considered high.
The participants also showed clear signs of kidney damage. On average, they had about 714 milligrams of a protein called albumin in their urine. Normally, healthy kidneys allow very little albumin to pass into urine, usually less than 30 milligrams per day. Higher levels indicate that the kidneys are not filtering properly.
The study included 195 participants. Out of these, 192 people were randomly assigned to receive either a low dose of baxdrostat, a higher dose, or a placebo. A placebo is a treatment that contains no active drug and is used so researchers can compare results fairly. All participants continued taking their regular medications during the study.
After 26 weeks, the results showed encouraging changes. People who took baxdrostat experienced a larger drop in systolic blood pressure compared with those who received the placebo.
On average, blood pressure dropped by 8.1 points more in the baxdrostat group. While this number may seem small, doctors consider this level of reduction meaningful because even modest improvements in blood pressure can lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, and further kidney damage.
Researchers also monitored possible side effects. The most common issue reported was an increase in potassium levels in the blood. This can happen with medications that affect hormone systems involved in blood pressure control. About 41 percent of participants taking baxdrostat experienced higher potassium levels, although most cases were mild.
Serious side effects were relatively uncommon. About 9 percent of people taking baxdrostat reported serious health events compared with 3 percent of those taking the placebo. Importantly, there were no deaths and no unexpected safety problems during the study.
Another important result involved albumin levels in urine. Albumin is a protein that should normally remain in the bloodstream. When it appears in large amounts in urine, it is a sign that the kidneys are damaged.
In the study, people who received baxdrostat had about 55 percent less albumin in their urine than those taking the placebo. This suggests the drug may help protect the kidneys and slow the progression of kidney disease.
Dr. Jamie Dwyer, who led the study, said these early findings are encouraging. He explained that baxdrostat may help interrupt the harmful cycle in which kidney disease and high blood pressure worsen each other. According to him, reducing aldosterone could help control blood pressure while also protecting kidney tissue.
Experts who were not directly involved in the study also see potential in the new treatment. Dr. Jordana Cohen from the University of Pennsylvania noted that people with kidney disease are often excluded from clinical drug trials.
Because of this, doctors have fewer treatment options for these patients. She said it is encouraging to see research that focuses directly on this group.
Baxdrostat is still being studied and has not yet been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Larger clinical trials are currently underway to determine whether the drug can safely slow the progression of kidney disease over longer periods of time.
If future studies confirm these early results, baxdrostat could become an important new treatment option for people who struggle with both chronic kidney disease and uncontrolled high blood pressure. For many patients facing these conditions, better treatment options could make a significant difference in their long‑term health.
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The study is published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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