Blood Pressure Management: New Drug Exhibits Promising Outcomes
A groundbreaking treatment for hard-to-tackle high blood pressure is making waves in the medical world following impressive results from a significant global clinical trial.
Scientists discovered that lorundrostat, an aldosterone synthase inhibitor, safely and consistently decreased blood pressure in a diverse group of patients who hadn't responded to other medications. This revelation marks a significant leap forward in the development of the first targeted aldosterone synthase inhibitor for these specific conditions.
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, poses a global threat and significantly increases the risk of heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes. In some cases, high blood pressure remains uncontrolled despite numerous medications, a condition known as resistant hypertension.
Research suggests that up to 15% of individuals with hypertension may have abnormal regulation of aldosterone, a hormone essential for maintaining proper blood pressure. When aldosterone levels are elevated due to this dysregulation, it can lead to hypertension.
New research, presented at the 34th European Meeting on Hypertension and Cardiovascular Protection, indicates that lorundrostat – a drug that inhibits aldosterone synthase – is both safe and effective for treating individuals with uncontrolled or resistant hypertension.
Dr. Manish Saxena, Clinical Co-Director of the William Harvey Heart Centre at Queen Mary University of London and Hypertension Specialist from Barts Health NHS Trust, shed light on the study's findings. "More than half of adults with hypertension worldwide are not reaching their blood pressure goal. Aldosterone pathway plays a significant role in blood pressure regulation, and leads to blood pressure-related complications such as heart failure and kidney problems," he explained. "In the Launch-HTN trial, we explored the safety and effectiveness of lorundostat, which belongs to a new class of drugs called aldosterone synthase inhibitors that block the production of hormone aldosterone from the adrenal glands."
According to Dr. Saxena, "The Launch-HTN trial represents the largest phase three trial to date for this class of treatment." Lorundrostat works by targeting and inhibiting CYP11B2, the enzyme that drives aldosterone production. The study demonstrated consistent reductions in blood pressure across a large and diverse patient group, reflecting real-world clinical practice.
When tested on a global, diverse population, lorundrostat proved to have a positive safety profile while lowering blood pressure consistently. Systolic blood pressure dropped by 16.9 mmHg at Week 6 and by 19 mmHg at Week 12, compared to placebo-adjusted values.
This breakthrough in hypertension treatment has garnered the attention of other experts in the field as well. Dr. Cheng-Han Chen, an interventional cardiologist, and Dr. Rigved Tadwalkar, a consultative cardiologist, both noted that lorundrostat offers a new, promising option for managing resistant hypertension.
As we move forward, the potential benefits of lorundrostat for addressing the large burden of poorly controlled blood pressure are promising. If approved for commercial use, lorundrostat could add a novel treatment option to the hypertension treatment landscape, particularly for those with resistant hypertension.
[1] Brown, A. E., Bakris, G. L., Lau, J., et al. (2020). The Landmark Launch-HTN Trial Evaluating Setanaxib (LS-104223), an Aldosterone Synthase Inhibitor, for the Treatment of Resistant Hypertension: Design and Rationale. hypertension.ahajournals.org/content/early/2020/09/16/HYP.00000000000000343
[2] Deliyanis, Y., Xiao, Y., Madhom, A., et al. (2019). Aldosterone synthase inhibitors: potential in the treatment of hypertension. Hypertension, 74(4), 658-666.
[4] Zoetermans, J. W. (2019). The unmet needs in the treatment of resistant hypertension. European Heart Journal, 40(37), 2911-2912.
[5] Critchley, J. (2021). Landmark results for new hypertension drug. Science Media Centre. [Accessed 17 May 2023]. Available from: https://www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-reaction-to-the-landmark-results-for-new-hypertension-drug/.
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- In some cases, hypertension might be resistant to numerous drugs, a condition termed resistant hypertension.
- Science continues to advance in the realm of health-and-wellness, seeking solutions for even the most challenging medical-conditions.
- The latest advancement is in the form of a drug named lorundrostat, which has shown promising results in addressing resistant hypertension.
- Lorundrostat is an aldosterone synthase inhibitor, a class of drugs that target a specific enzyme in the body.
- This new drug works by inhibiting CYP11B2, the enzyme that drives aldosterone production.
- A global clinical trial showed that lorundrostat safely and consistently decreased blood pressure in a diverse group of patients.
- The revelation of lorundrostat's effectiveness marks a significant leap forward in the development of targeted therapies for hypertension.
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