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J&J’s aprocitentan shows promise in difficult-to-control hypertension

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Johnson & Johnson Janssen pharmaceutical business in the Pharma 50Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) has announced that the investigational antihypertensive drug aprocitentan significantly lowered blood pressure (BP) when used in conjunction with background antihypertensive therapy in the Phase 3 PRECISION study. 

Sharing the results in collaboration with Idorsia (OTCMKTS:IDRSF), J&J noted that the drug candidate helped maintain a reduction in blood pressure for 48 weeks. 

Aprocitentan is a novel dual endothelin receptor antagonist (ERA). 

The companies presented the data in a late-breaking presentation at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2022. The data were also published in The Lancet. 

Scientists have noted the role of the endothelin pathway in hypertension, but aprocitentan is among the first drug candidates to target the pathway. 

“The results of PRECISION demonstrate aprocitentan is a novel and generally well-tolerated potential treatment strategy for resistant hypertension with clinically meaningful and sustained blood pressure lowering effect,” said Dr. Markus Schlaich, an investigator in the PRECISION study, in a news release. 

The primary efficacy endpoint in the PRECISION study was the change in sitting systolic blood pressure readings measured with an unattended automated office blood pressure from baseline to week 4. 

At four weeks, recipients of 12.5 mg of aprocitentan recipients had a mean change of –15.3 mmHg. Those who received a 25 mg dose had a similar reduction: –15.2 mmHg. Placebo recipients saw a –11.5 mmHg drop. 

The PRECISION trial also met its key secondary efficacy endpoint of showing sustained systolic blood pressure at weeks 36 and 40. 

Recipients of aprocitentan also saw reductions in ambulatory blood pressure. 

Aprocitentan was generally well-tolerated in the study, with the most frequent adverse event being mild-to-moderate fluid retention. Seven patients in the study discontinued because of fluid retention. The problem was more common in recipients of the 25 mg dose of the drug candidate.   

JNJ shares ticked up half a point to $173.84. 

Filed Under: Cardiovascular
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About The Author

Brian Buntz

As the pharma and biotech editor at WTWH Media, Brian has almost two decades of experience in B2B media, with a focus on healthcare and technology. While he has long maintained a keen interest in AI, more recently Brian has made making data analysis a central focus, and is exploring tools ranging from NLP and clustering to predictive analytics.

Throughout his 18-year tenure, Brian has covered an array of life science topics, including clinical trials, medical devices, and drug discovery and development. Prior to WTWH, he held the title of content director at Informa, where he focused on topics such as connected devices, cybersecurity, AI and Industry 4.0. A dedicated decade at UBM saw Brian providing in-depth coverage of the medical device sector. Engage with Brian on LinkedIn or drop him an email at bbuntz@wtwhmedia.com.

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