New drug baxdrostat may cure high blood pressure
A new medication called baxdrostat has shown potential to permanently cure high blood pressure in patients who stopped taking it after a trial period.
Study shows lasting effects
Patients taking daily pills saw their blood pressure improve over six to twelve months. Doctors checked these individuals up to two years later and found benefits remained. Some patients no longer required any hypertension drugs and had normal readings. Just under a quarter of the fourteen participants came off all treatment completely.
Mechanism involves hormone suppression
The drug acts as an aldosterone synthase inhibitor to suppress the blood pressure raising hormone. Excess hormone signals kidneys to retain salt which raises pressure significantly. Standard surgery removes affected adrenal glands but does not always cure the condition fully. Baxdrostat was approved in the US earlier this year for resistant hypertension cases.
Future trials and access
Professor Morris Brown from Queen Mary University of London led the study on primary aldosteronism. Professor Mason Freeman from Harvard University noted a larger trial is currently under way. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence assesses availability through the NHS next year.
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