Researchers presented findings at an American College of Cardiology meeting on a Phase 2b trial of a new medication called lorundrostat to help lower blood pressure in patients with uncontrolled hypertension. The drug, part of a class called aldosterone synthase inhibitors, was found to reduce systolic blood pressure by 8 points more than a placebo when taken with existing hypertension medications. Uncontrolled hypertension is linked to increased risks of heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, and kidney failure, indicating a need for more treatment options beyond the existing drugs used by 30% to 40% of patients.
The trial included 285 adults with uncontrolled hypertension, over half of whom were Black patients. Black individuals are at high risk for hypertension, so their inclusion in the study was significant. Participants wore a blood pressure cuff at three intervals during the study period, with those taking 50mg of lorundrostat seeing the most significant reduction in blood pressure. However, higher doses did not show further improvement in results.
The medication was generally well-tolerated, but there was a risk of increased potassium levels, which could lead to abnormal heart rhythms. The researchers are now completing a Phase 3 trial, and the drugmaker is working towards potential FDA approval, with expectations that lorundrostat could be available within the next 12 to 18 months. Long-term studies are needed to assess the drug’s safety and effectiveness in comparison to existing medications.
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