Baxdrostat shows significant blood pressure reduction in phase III trial

WILMINGTON - AstraZeneca (AZN), a prominent pharmaceutical company with a market capitalization of $265.4 billion and impressive recent performance including an 11% gain last week, announced its experimental drug baxdrostat demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in 24-hour ambulatory systolic blood pressure compared to placebo in patients with treatment-resistant hypertension, according to results from the Phase III Bax24 trial. According to InvestingPro analysis, AstraZeneca maintains strong financial health with a robust gross profit margin of 82%.

The trial evaluated 218 patients with resistant hypertension who received either baxdrostat 2mg or placebo once daily for 12 weeks, in addition to their standard care. The drug showed efficacy throughout the 24-hour period, including early morning hours when patients with hypertension face higher cardiovascular event risks.

Baxdrostat was generally well tolerated, with a safety profile consistent with previous clinical studies, according to the company’s press release.

Dr. Bryan Williams, Chair of Medicine at University College London and primary investigator for the trial, called the results "groundbreaking," noting that the once-daily regimen delivered meaningful reductions in systolic blood pressure.

Baxdrostat works by inhibiting aldosterone synthase, an enzyme responsible for producing aldosterone, a hormone that raises blood pressure by promoting sodium and water retention. The drug has a half-life of approximately 26 to 30 hours.

Hypertension affects an estimated 1.4 billion people worldwide, with approximately 50% of treated patients in the US still unable to control their blood pressure despite multiple medications.

AstraZeneca acquired baxdrostat through its purchase of CinCor Pharma in February 2023. The company, which has demonstrated 15% revenue growth over the last twelve months, plans to share the data with regulatory authorities globally and present it at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in November 2025. InvestingPro subscribers can access detailed financial analysis and 15+ additional ProTips about AstraZeneca’s market position and growth potential through comprehensive Pro Research Reports.

The drug is currently being investigated as a monotherapy for hypertension and primary aldosteronism, as well as in combination with dapagliflozin for chronic kidney disease and heart failure prevention. With the stock trading near its 52-week high and showing strong momentum, investors seeking detailed valuation analysis and future growth prospects can access comprehensive research through InvestingPro’s extensive coverage of AstraZeneca.

In other recent news, AstraZeneca has reported significant developments in its clinical trials and business operations. The company announced that its investigational drug, baxdrostat, successfully met the primary endpoint in the Bax24 Phase III trial for patients with resistant hypertension, showing a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure over 12 weeks compared to a placebo. Additionally, AstraZeneca, in collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo, reported that its drug Datroway achieved the main goals in the Phase III TROPION-Breast02 trial, demonstrating significant improvements in overall survival and progression-free survival for patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. These results mark the first time a therapy has shown a survival benefit over chemotherapy for this patient group.

Furthermore, AstraZeneca is set to launch AstraZeneca Direct, an online platform enabling eligible patients to purchase medications like AIRSUPRA and FARXIGA at reduced prices with home delivery. The platform will also offer FLUMIST for home delivery, providing patients with convenient access to these treatments. These developments highlight AstraZeneca’s ongoing efforts in both drug innovation and patient accessibility.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.