CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The FDA has approved Baxdrostat, the first aldosterone synthase inhibitor, as an add-on treatment for adults with hypertension that remains uncontrolled despite standard medications.
The drug works by inhibiting aldosterone synthase, an enzyme involved in the production of aldosterone, a hormone that can contribute to elevated blood pressure when present at high levels.
Hypertension affects an estimated 120 million adults in the United States, and many patients do not achieve adequate control even when taking multiple medications.
Persistently elevated blood pressure increases the risk of serious complications, including heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease.
Baxdrostat, developed by AstraZeneca, is intended for patients whose blood pressure remains above target levels despite existing therapy.
The approval introduces a new treatment approach in a field where options have changed little over the past two decades.
