The result for 24-hour hypertension follows another positive trial result reported in late August. The medicine works by inhibiting the production of aldosterone, a key hormone that raises blood pressure by promoting water and salt retention, and increases the risk of heart and kidney problems. Sharon Barr, AstraZeneca’s executive vice-president in biopharmaceuticals research and development, said on Tuesday that the drugmaker was advancing its filings with regulators and “rapidly progressing” its other clinical trial programmes, including in chronic kidney disease and prevention of heart failure. “Too many patients today have hypertension that remains hard to control throughout the day and night, making them especially vulnerable to cardiac events,” she said. About 1.4bn people have hypertension, with about half of those in the US unable to control the problem despite taking multiple treatments, such as the generic statins. Dr Bryan Williams, chair of medicine at University College London and the primary investigator on the trial, said the results were “groundbreaking”. “We have the potential to change our treatment approach for the many patients whose hypertension remains uncontrolled despite current therapies,” he said. The full trial data will be presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in November.
