AstraZenecas New Hypertension Drug Approved in the U.S., Expected to Generate $7 Billion in Annual Revenue

[Photo: Reuters & Yonhap]

AstraZeneca's new hypertension treatment has been approved in the United States. This combination therapy is intended for patients whose blood pressure remains uncontrolled despite taking multiple medications. It is considered a new treatment option as it targets a hormone that raises blood pressure.

On May 18, The Wall Street Journal reported that AstraZeneca received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its hypertension drug, Baxfendy, which was previously known as baxdrostat during development.

The approval is aimed at adult hypertension patients. It is not a standalone treatment but is used in conjunction with other blood pressure medications. Late-stage clinical trials confirmed that adding Baxfendy to patients already taking two or more blood pressure medications resulted in a reduction in blood pressure.

Baxfendy targets aldosterone, a hormone involved in regulating sodium and fluid levels in the body. When it acts excessively, it can raise blood pressure. Baxfendy works by inhibiting this action to lower blood pressure.

AstraZeneca is promoting Baxfendy as a "new approach to treatment." Hypertension affects a large number of patients, and it is not uncommon for individuals to fail to reach their target blood pressure despite using multiple medications.

Rud Doever, AstraZeneca's Vice President of BioPharmaceuticals, stated, "We are providing a new treatment option for a condition that has seen limited progress in treatment over the past 20 years."

This approval is also significant for AstraZeneca's revenue structure. The company’s key product in the cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic disease sectors, the diabetes drug Farxiga, recently lost patent protection in the U.S. Farxiga has been AstraZeneca's best-selling drug. Baxfendy is seen as a key candidate in the company's strategy to develop new revenue sources following the expiration of Farxiga's patent.

Baxfendy was acquired by AstraZeneca when it purchased Syncor Pharma in 2023. The company is expanding its lineup of new drugs in the cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic disease sectors, including Baxfendy and the obesity treatment under development, Elecoglifron.

AstraZeneca anticipates that Baxfendy could generate annual sales exceeding $5 billion (approximately 7.4 trillion won). The company aims to achieve $80 billion (approximately 118.4 trillion won) in revenue by 2030, planning to launch 20 new drugs before then.

* This article has been translated by AI.

AJP

AstraZeneca's New Hypertension Drug Approved in the U.S., Expected to Generate $7 Billion in Annual Revenue