New blood pressure drug helps people with uncontrolled hypertension in trial

Main Idea: Mineralys Therapeutics’ experimental blood pressure drug lorundrostat lowered systolic blood pressure in a trial of people whose hypertension was still uncontrolled on standard treatment.

Key Points:

• In the Phase 2b trial, lorundrostat cut systolic blood pressure by 8 points more than placebo after researchers adjusted for the placebo effect.
• The study involved 285 adults, most of whom were already taking two or three blood pressure medicines, and more than half were Black.
• Lorundrostat works by blocking aldosterone production, a hormone that helps the body hold on to salt and can raise blood pressure.
• The drug caused more cases of high potassium, so doctors would need to monitor patients closely if it is approved.