Innovative Medication Reduces Resistant Blood Pressure in Kidney Disease Patients

A newly developed medication targeting the hormone aldosterone demonstrates significant potential for managing high blood pressure and slowing the progression of kidney disease in affected individuals. Presented at the American Heart Association (AHA) conference in Baltimore and published simultaneously in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, the Phase 2 clinical trial investigated baxdrostat, a promising new drug.

The trial, called FigHTN, involved 195 participants with an average age of 66, all of whom experienced high systolic blood pressure despite ongoing treatment. These patients also had chronic kidney disease but were not in kidney failure. Over 26 weeks, they received either a low or high dose of baxdrostat along with their standard medications.

Results showed that baxdrostat reduced systolic blood pressure by approximately 5%, a significant improvement for patients with resistant hypertension. Systolic blood pressure measures the pressure during heartbeats, and lowering this number is crucial for reducing cardiovascular risks.

Beyond blood pressure control, the study revealed that patients taking baxdrostat experienced a 55% decrease in urinary albumin loss compared to the placebo group. Elevated albumin levels in urine are indicators of potential kidney and heart issues, so this reduction offers hope that baxdrostat could help prevent further organ damage.

The most common side effect observed was increased potassium levels in the blood, which occurred more frequently in the treatment group but was mostly mild to moderate. Experts, including Dr. Jordana Cohen from UPenn, emphasized the significance of these findings, noting that the medication was well tolerated by individuals with kidney disease—a group at high risk for hypertension and related complications.

Researchers continue to explore baxdrostan's long-term benefits, especially its potential to delay kidney damage, which is currently under investigation in larger Phase 3 trials. This breakthrough could mark a new chapter in the management of resistant hypertension, particularly among patients with concurrent kidney disease.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-pill-lowers-stubborn-bp-kidney.html