New drug hailed as ‘gamechanger’ in tackling stubbornly high blood pressure

Results from trials show baxdrostat could be a significant benefit to people with high blood pressure who are resistant to existing treatments. Photograph: Andriy Popov/Alamy

Doctors are hailing a new pill for patients with high blood pressure resistant to existing medication as a “gamechanger” and a “triumph of science”.

Globally, more than 1.3 billion people have hypertension. In half of them, their high blood pressure is uncontrolled or resistant to existing treatments. They face a much higher risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease and early death.