Gilead Sciences says that its treatment for resistant high blood pressure met the primary endpoint in the first of two Phase III studies. More than half of the patients treated with darusentan (DAR-311) achieved goal blood pressure, as compared to approximately one quarter of patients receiving placebo. Compared to placebo, darusentan was superior at controlling sitting systolic blood pressure and trough sitting blood pressure at all three dose levels tested. The most common side effect was mild to moderate peripheral edema/fluid retention.
There is currently no standard care for patients with resistant hypertension--a condition that's believed to affect 2 to 5 percent of those with high blood pressure. Results from the second Phase III trial are expected late this year. "We look forward to presenting full results from this study and to completing our second Phase III study, which will further characterize darusentan's safety and efficacy profile," said said Norbert Bischofberger, PhD, Gilead's Executive Vice President, Research and Development and Chief Scientific Officer
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