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WILMINGTON - AstraZeneca’s experimental drug baxdrostat demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful reductions in systolic blood pressure compared to placebo in patients with hard-to-control hypertension, according to Phase III trial results announced Monday. The pharmaceutical giant, which InvestingPro data shows has achieved a robust 15.5% revenue growth over the last twelve months and maintains an impressive 82.4% gross profit margin, continues to strengthen its position in the cardiovascular space.
The BaxHTN trial tested the drug at two doses (2mg and 1mg) in 796 patients with uncontrolled or treatment-resistant hypertension who were already receiving standard treatments. Both dosages met the primary endpoint of reducing mean seated systolic blood pressure at 12 weeks compared to placebo.
The trial also successfully achieved all secondary endpoints, including blood pressure reductions in the resistant hypertension subpopulation. Baxdrostat was generally well tolerated with a favorable safety profile, according to the company’s press release.
Baxdrostat works by inhibiting aldosterone synthase, an enzyme responsible for producing aldosterone, a hormone linked to elevated blood pressure. The drug is described as a potential first-in-class, highly selective aldosterone synthase inhibitor.
"Many people continue to struggle with high blood pressure that is hard to control, even when taking multiple medications," said Dr. Bryan Williams, Chair of Medicine at University College London and primary investigator of the trial.
Approximately 1.3 billion people worldwide live with hypertension, with about 50% of U.S. patients on multiple treatments still unable to control their blood pressure. Uncontrolled hypertension increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure and kidney disease. As a prominent player in the pharmaceuticals industry with a market capitalization of $221.6 billion, AstraZeneca is well-positioned to address this significant market need. According to InvestingPro, the company’s strong financial health and 33-year history of consistent dividend payments demonstrate its stable market position. Subscribers can access 8 additional exclusive ProTips and comprehensive analysis through the Pro Research Report.
The detailed results will be presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in August 2025.
AstraZeneca acquired baxdrostat through its purchase of CinCor Pharma in February 2023. The company is also investigating the drug for primary aldosteronism and in combination with dapagliflozin for chronic kidney disease and heart failure prevention. With its current stock trading below InvestingPro’s calculated Fair Value and analysts predicting continued profitability, AstraZeneca appears well-positioned to capitalize on these expanding therapeutic opportunities.
In other recent news, AstraZeneca has made significant strides with several regulatory approvals. The European Commission has approved Imfinzi for treating muscle-invasive bladder cancer, following impressive results from the NIAGARA Phase III trial. In another development, the US FDA granted accelerated approval for Datroway to treat advanced EGFR-mutated lung cancer, marking it as the first TROP2-directed therapy for lung cancer in the US. This approval was based on data from the TROPION-Lung05 and TROPION-Lung01 trials. Additionally, AstraZeneca received EU approval for Calquence regimens in treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia, based on the AMPLIFY Phase III trial, which showed significant improvements in progression-free survival. AstraZeneca has also released a block listing interim review, detailing the status of its share schemes, which reported a balance of 3,688,383 unallotted securities. Moreover, the company announced an update on its total voting rights, confirming 1,550,657,962 ordinary shares with voting rights. These developments reflect AstraZeneca’s ongoing efforts in advancing its pharmaceutical portfolio and maintaining transparency in its operations.
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