New drug shows promise for people with treatment-resistant hypertension

A new medication has been shown to significantly lower blood pressure in people whose levels stay dangerously high, despite taking several existing medicines, according to the results of a Phase III clinical trial.

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Globally, around 1.3 billion people have high blood pressure (hypertension), and in around half of cases, the condition is uncontrolled or treatment-resistant. These individuals face a much greater risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, and early death.

The international trial showed that after 12 weeks, patients taking the new drug baxdrostat (1 mg or 2 mg once daily in pill form) experienced a blood pressure reduction of around 9-10 mmHg more than those taking the placebo—a reduction large enough to cut cardiovascular risk potentially.