Experimental Drug Lorundrostat Could Quell Uncontrolled High Blood Pressure
By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, May 5, 2025 — An experimental drug might help people with uncontrolled high blood pressure, according to early clinical trial results.
People taking lorundrostat experienced twice the decline in their systolic blood pressure than people taking a placebo, researchers reported recently in the New England Journal of Medicine. Systolic, the top number of a blood pressure reading, refers to the pressure within blood vessels during a heartbeat.
“While blood pressure readings remained elevated at the end of this Phase II trial in some participants treated with lorundrostat, we find these results promising because almost all participants involved in the study were not able to sufficiently lower their blood pressure with medication before,” principal investigator Dr. Michael Wilkinson, an associate professor with the University of California-San Diego School of Medicine, said in a news release.
Lorundrostat works by inhibiting the synthesis of the hormone aldosterone, which has been recognized as a driver of persistent high blood pressure, researchers said in background notes.
“We were specifically studying a new approach to addressing imbalanced aldosterone, which is an often underrecognized cause for treatment-resistant hypertension,” said Wilkinson.
For the clinical trial, researchers recruited 285 patients who had high blood pressure despite taking two to five blood pressure medications. High blood pressure or hypertension is defined as a systolic pressure of 130 or higher, or a diastolic pressure (the lower number) of 80 or higher and is a leading cause of heart disease and stroke, according to the American Heart Association.
Two-thirds of the patients took lorundrostat for 12 weeks, while the remaining third took a placebo.
Results showed that people taking lorundrostat experienced a 15-point drop in their systolic blood pressure, compared to a 7-point reduction among those on placebo.
“Ultimately, we found that the therapy, compared to placebo, was helpful in lowering a person’s systolic blood pressure,” Wilkinson said.
These results could lead to a larger, Phase III trial for lorundrostat, which would form the basis of an application for U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, researchers said.
“As we learn more about the safety and efficacy of this treatment, I’m hopeful we will identify a useful tool in addressing high blood pressure for patients in need,” Wilkinson said.
The drug’s maker, Mineralys Therapeutics, funded the clinical trial.
Sources
- University of California-San Diego, news release, April 24, 2025
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted May 2025
Read this next
U.S. Moms Facing Mental, Physical Health Struggles
TUESDAY, May 27, 2025 — U.S. mothers are struggling with both their mental and physical health, a new study says. The percentage of mothers who report excellent mental...
Former Surgeon General Warns Social Media Is Harming Children's Health
TUESDAY, May 27, 2025 — Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy is urging lawmakers to take stronger steps to protect children from the potential dangers of social...
NIH Director's COVID Comments Spark Staff Walkout
TUESDAY, May 27, 2025 — Dozens of staff at the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) walked out of a recent town hall meeting after Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.