AstraZeneca’s hypertension strategy gains momentum with baxdrostat’s success

AstraZeneca’s blood pressure drug candidate, baxdrostat, achieved its second phase 3 trial win, reinforcing its potential market edge due to its long-lasting effects.

Why it matters: This success strengthens AstraZeneca’s case for regulatory approval and market differentiation, key steps in its $80B sales growth plan by 2030. The once-daily drug could offer better round-the-clock blood pressure control for patients with resistant hypertension.

Backstory: AstraZeneca acquired CinCor Pharma, developer of baxdrostat, for $1.3B in 2023. Baxdrostat is an aldosterone synthase inhibitor with a longer half-life (26–30 hours) than its main competitor, lorundrostat (10–12 hours), developed by Mineralys Therapeutics.

Big picture: Hypertension is a major global health issue, and better treatment options could reduce cardiovascular risk in high-risk populations. A longer-acting drug may offer both efficacy and patient convenience, potentially reshaping treatment standards.

Zoom in: AstraZeneca, undoubtedly enthused, is preparing regulatory filings as Mineralys and Boehringer Ingelheim are racing in this drug class as well. AstraZeneca has reason to celebrate, as Baxdrostat showed significant reductions in 24-hour systolic blood pressure after 12 weeks and high early morning efficacy. While the full safety profile of the drug has until November to be revealed, public data so far is consistent with prior studies.