New Drug Baxdrostat Shows Promise in Reducing Resistant High Blood Pressure
A new medication, baxdrostat, has been found to significantly reduce blood pressure in patients whose levels remain high despite taking multiple existing drugs. This discovery comes from a Phase III clinical trial led by Professor Bryan Williams at the UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Science. The trial, known as BaxHTN, involved nearly 800 patients across 214 clinics worldwide and was funded by AstraZeneca. The results, presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2025 and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed that patients taking baxdrostat experienced an average drop in blood pressure of about 9 to 10 mmHg more than those on a placebo. This reduction is significant enough to lower the risk of cardiovascular events. Baxdrostat works by blocking the production of aldosterone, a hormone that regulates salt and water levels in the body, which in excess can lead to high blood pressure. 
