New Treatment Lowers Systolic Blood Pressure By 15 Points

Scientists at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine have discovered a promising experimental drug, lorundrostat, as a potential treatment for people with uncontrolled or treatment-resistant high blood pressure.

The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, revealed that participants taking the new drug saw a 15-point decrease in systolic blood pressure reading, compared to a 7-point decrease in those who received a placebo.

Dr. Michael Wilkinson, principal investigator at UC San Diego, explained, “We designed this study to assess how a new medication lowers blood pressure in people with hypertension not well-managed by current treatments.”

“Nationwide Phase II Trial Tackles Silent Killer of 120 Million Americans: Hypertension”

The multicenter, Phase II trial involved 285 participants, including some from UC San Diego Health, and was a collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic Coordinating Center for Clinical Research.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that hypertension affects around 120 million people in the United States, nearly half of all adults, and is the leading cause of heart disease in the country. Typically, high blood pressure presents no noticeable signs or symptoms.

When its regulation is disrupted, aldosterone, a hormone that controls blood pressure, can contribute to hypertension.

Wilkinson explained, “We focused on exploring a new approach to correcting imbalanced aldosterone, a commonly overlooked cause of treatment-resistant hypertension.”

Standardized Treatment Followed by Trial Drug Shows Promise in Lowering Blood Pressure

Over a 12-week period, the trial administered a standardized antihypertensive medication to every participant. Researchers gave 190 participants the trial drug, which blocks aldosterone, and 95 received a placebo.

“All participants took the same blood Stress meds for three weeks to establish a baseline for treatment effectiveness,” said Wilkinson, associate professor at UC San Diego. “We found the therapy reduced systolic blood pressure compared to the placebo.”

24-Hour Monitoring Reveals Significant Drop in Systolic Blood Pressure with Treatment

Participants’ blood pressure was continuously monitored for 24 hours at the start, middle, and end of the trial. Those on the medication saw an average 15 mmHg drop in systolic blood pressure.

“While some participants treated with lorundrostat still had elevated blood pressure at the end of this Phase II trial, these results are encouraging as nearly all had previously struggled to lower their blood pressure with medication,” said Wilkinson.

“As we learn more, I’m hopeful it’ll be a valuable option for managing high blood pressure.”

Wilkinson noted the diverse trial group could lead to more effective treatment for those at higher risk of heart disease. The next phase of the research will involve a larger Phase III trial of the medication.

Read the orginal article on: Medical Press

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