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A new BP drug also helps kidneys. A subgroup analysis of the Launch-HTN trial found that lorundrostat, an aldosterone synthase inhibitor, significantly lowered systolic blood pressure in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) — matching results seen in non-CKD patients. It also slashed urinary protein levels, a key marker of kidney and cardiovascular health, by over 52%.
A promising blood pressure drug is showing benefits beyond the heart. A subgroup analysis of the Launch-HTN trial, presented at ASN Kidney Week in Denver, found that lorundrostat — a novel aldosterone synthase inhibitor — significantly reduced systolic blood pressure in patients with uncontrolled hypertension and chronic kidney disease (CKD), with results comparable to those seen in patients without CKD. The drug works by targeting dysregulated aldosterone, a hormone implicated in roughly 30% of people with uncontrolled hypertension.
Even more encouraging: in CKD patients who also had albuminuria (excess protein in the urine), lorundrostat reduced the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) by over 52% compared to placebo — a meaningful finding, since elevated UACR signals both progressive kidney damage and heightened cardiovascular risk. Researchers also noted that lorundrostat could potentially reduce the number of BP medications CKD patients need, addressing a real quality-of-life concern.
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Why it matters: CKD patients with uncontrolled hypertension face a tough balancing act — managing BP while protecting kidney function. Lorundrostat's ability to tackle both simultaneously, and potentially reduce pill burden, could be a meaningful advance for this high-risk population. Larger, long-term trials are the logical next step.
