AstraZeneca's Baxdrostat Lowers Systolic Blood Pressure in Resistant Hypertension
AstraZeneca's Bax24 Phase III trial demonstrated a statistically significant, placebo-adjusted reduction in 24-hour ambulatory systolic blood pressure in patients with resistant hypertension. The drug met its primary endpoint.
AstraZeneca has released full Phase III results for its Bax24 trial, showing its drug candidate baxdrostat significantly lowered blood pressure in patients with treatment-resistant hypertension. The randomized, placebo-controlled study administered baxdrostat 2mg or placebo in addition to standard care.
The trial met its primary endpoint, demonstrating a 14.0 mmHg placebo-adjusted reduction in 24-hour ambulatory systolic blood pressure (SBP) after 12 weeks of treatment. This reduction was both statistically significant and clinically meaningful. Baxdrostat was generally well-tolerated, with a safety profile consistent with the earlier BaxHTN trial experience.
The drug also showed statistically significant and clinically meaningful reductions in key secondary endpoints, including night-time ambulatory SBP and seated SBP. More than 70% of patients treated with baxdrostat achieved a 24-hour average SBP below 130 mmHg, compared to only 17% in the placebo group.
Baxdrostat works by selectively inhibiting aldosterone synthase, a hormone that raises blood pressure and increases the risk of heart and kidney problems. The drug's long half-life and sustained levels in the body may improve blood pressure control, particularly overnight when cardiovascular event risk is heightened. Baxdrostat is also being investigated for other indications, including primary aldosteronism and in combination therapies for chronic kidney disease and heart failure prevention.