AstraZeneca's Blood Pressure Drug Shows Promise in Late-Stage Trial, Shares Rise 2%

AstraZeneca's experimental blood pressure drug, Baxdrostat, successfully reduced blood pressure in patients with treatment-resistant hypertension. The drug targets aldosterone, a hormone that raises blood pressure, and is expected to top £3.7 billion in annual sales. AstraZeneca shares rose 2% after the trial results were announced.

July 2, 2025 — AstraZeneca (AZN) has announced promising results from its Phase III trial, BaxHTN, which demonstrated that Baxdrostat significantly reduced blood pressure in patients with treatment-resistant hypertension. The trial results were well-received by investors, leading to a 2% increase in AstraZeneca's share price.

Baxdrostat, a highly selective aldosterone synthase inhibitor (ASI), targets the hormone aldosterone, which plays a key role in elevating blood pressure. In the BaxHTN trial, patients with uncontrolled or treatment-resistant hypertension received either baxdrostat or placebo in addition to their standard care. The study showed that baxdrostat at two doses (2mg and 1mg) achieved a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in mean seated systolic blood pressure (SBP) compared to placebo at 12 weeks.

The trial met all secondary endpoints, including a reduction in diastolic blood pressure and an increased number of patients achieving SBP less than 130 mmHg. The drug was generally well-tolerated with a favorable safety profile. Dr. Bryan Williams, the primary investigator, stated that baxdrostat offers a new treatment approach for controlling hypertension, a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Sharon Barr, Executive Vice President of BioPharmaceuticals R&D at AstraZeneca, expressed excitement about the results, highlighting that baxdrostat addresses a critical unmet need by targeting aldosterone dysregulation, an area with little innovation over the past two decades.

The BaxHTN trial involved 796 patients randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive baxdrostat 2mg, 1mg, or placebo once daily. The primary efficacy endpoint was the difference in mean change from baseline in seated SBP at Week 12. Additional endpoints included the effect of baxdrostat versus placebo on seated SBP in the resistant hypertension subpopulation and the occurrence of adverse events.

Baxdrostat is a potential first-in-class, highly selective and potent, oral, small molecule that inhibits aldosterone synthase. It is currently being investigated as a monotherapy for hypertension and primary aldosteronism, as well as in combination with dapagliflozin for chronic kidney disease and the prevention of heart failure in high-risk hypertensive patients.

AstraZeneca acquired baxdrostat through its purchase of CinCor Pharma, Inc. in February 2023. The contingent value right of $10 per share in cash ($0.5 billion) is payable to former CinCor shareholders upon the submission of a new drug application either in the US or Europe.

The data from the BaxHTN trial will be shared with regulatory authorities around the world and presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress in August 2025. AstraZeneca's Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM) division, which includes baxdrostat, is a key growth driver for the company.

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company focusing on the discovery, development, and commercialization of prescription medicines in Oncology, Rare Diseases, and BioPharmaceuticals, including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory & Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca's innovative medicines are sold in more than 125 countries and used by millions of patients worldwide.

References:
[1] https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/press-releases/2025/baxdrostat-met-primary-and-all-secondary-endpts-in-baxhtn-phiii-trial.html