Shares of AstraZeneca (LSE:AZN) climbed following positive data from a Phase III trial of its investigational drug baxdrostat, which demonstrated significant blood pressure reductions in patients with difficult-to-control hypertension. The trial results, unveiled Monday, highlight the drug’s potential as a new treatment option for resistant high blood pressure.
The BaxHTN study involved 796 adults suffering from uncontrolled or resistant hypertension—conditions where blood pressure remains elevated despite the use of multiple medications. Participants were randomly assigned to receive daily doses of 1 mg or 2 mg of baxdrostat, or a placebo, alongside their usual treatments.
After 12 weeks, patients treated with baxdrostat showed a notable decline in systolic blood pressure compared to those on placebo. The reduction was both statistically significant and clinically meaningful. The trial also successfully met all its secondary endpoints, including improvements in diastolic pressure and a strong safety profile with minimal side effects.
Hypertension affects over 1.3 billion people globally, and many patients in the U.S. fail to control their blood pressure despite taking several drugs. Unmanaged high blood pressure increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, and heart failure.
Baxdrostat targets the enzyme responsible for producing aldosterone, a hormone that elevates blood pressure by promoting salt and water retention. Unlike some existing therapies, baxdrostat selectively inhibits aldosterone without impacting cortisol, a crucial hormone for the body.
Dr. Bryan Williams, lead investigator of the trial and Chair of Medicine at University College London, remarked that these results offer hope for patients struggling to manage their hypertension with current treatments. He added that adding baxdrostat could provide meaningful additional blood pressure control.
The study included a follow-up phase to evaluate the durability of the drug’s effects. In this extension, 300 patients taking 2 mg of baxdrostat were re-randomized to continue the drug or switch to placebo for eight weeks. AstraZeneca will continue monitoring long-term safety up to 52 weeks.
These promising findings will be submitted to health authorities and presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress scheduled for August 2025.
Baxdrostat is part of AstraZeneca’s growing cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic pipeline. The company acquired the drug through its 2023 purchase of CinCor Pharma, a deal valued at up to $1.8 billion. CinCor shareholders may receive a $10-per-share bonus if regulatory filings are successfully made in the U.S. or Europe.
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