An international study has shown the effectiveness of an experimental drug that can lower blood pressure in patients who are not helped by standard medications. The results of the work are published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) and presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress.
We are talking about the baxdrostat pill, which blocks the production of the hormone aldosterone, an excess of which causes the body to retain salt and water, increasing blood pressure.
The phase III clinical trial involved nearly 800 people. After 12 weeks, those taking baxdrostat had an average blood pressure reduction of 9 to 10 millimeters of mercury more than those taking a placebo, with about 40 percent of patients achieving normal blood pressure, compared with less than 20 percent of those in the control group.
According to the head of the study, Professor Brian Williams, this effect significantly reduces the risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney disease.
