Researchers claim to have found a way to tackle previously untreatable high blood pressure.

Scientists from Queen Mary University of London and the US pharmaceutical firm CinCor examined whether patients would benefit from taking a drug called Baxdrostat.

Those who took a new medicine during a clinical trial were found to have significantly lower blood pressure after other traditional medicines had failed.

Baxdrostat works by preventing the body from making aldosterone, a hormone that helps to regulate the amount of salt in the body.

“The results of this first-of-its-kind drug are exciting, although more testing is required before we can draw comparisons with any existing medications,” said Professor Morris Brown, co-senior author and professor of endocrine hypertension at Queen Mary University of London.

“But Baxdrostat could potentially offer hope to many people who do not respond to traditional hypertension treatment.

“The effectiveness of older drugs in individual patients can vary substantially, whereas a hallmark of this new class is that it can be predicted to work well in the patients whose aldosterone hormone has made them resistant to older treatments.”

Lab-grown red blood cells transfused into patient in world-first clinical trial

Over two fifths of people in Britain suffer from chronic pain by their mid-40s, study suggests

Shopkeepers demand stricter laws for selling tobacco – including raising age limit

Read more:
Six-monthly blood pressure injection could soon replace a daily pill
Blood pressure checks in pharmacies could save lives
Free blood pressure monitors given to thousands across UK

Some 248 patients with “treatment-resistant” high blood pressure were given either a dummy drug – also known as a placebo – or varying doses of the drug for 12 weeks.

The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that the blood pressure of people who received the highest dose fell by an average of 20 points.

The strongest doses were linked to the highest reductions, but those taking smaller doses also had a fall in blood pressure.

Related posts:

Expedition crew believe they’ve accidentally discovered world’s northernmost island Avocados, ice cream and a robotic arm on their way to International Space Station You’ll have to tell Instagram your birthday if you want to log in China announces complete ban on cryptocurrencies Government aims to make its ‘black box’ algorithms more transparent Cyber attack on UK’s Defence Academy had ‘significant’ impact Apple becomes world’s first $3 trillion company Babies born during first year of COVID pandemic have lower developmental scores Star Wars actors reprise their roles in LEGO form for new video game UK government hackers destroyed hundreds of thousands of stolen credit cards UK launches legal action against EU for ‘persistent delays’ over scientific research access What is the Apple vulnerability, what is the risk to the public, and how do you protect yourself from it?