Gilead's Darusentan High Blood Pressure Drug Fails Trial

Gilead Sciences, Inc. has announced that their high blood pressure treatment drug candidate, Darusentan has failed a drug trial. As a result, Gilead says they are unlikely to continue developing the new hypertension drug.

Darusentan entered into the late-stage clinical trial in 2006. According to Gilead, the end result from the drug trial is that the new high blood pressure drug failed to meet the main goal of the trial.

The late-stage clinical trial involved 849 patients. During the trial there was no significant difference in the blood pressure for those on Darusentan or the placebo.

The trial looked at both the systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings. The systolic is the top number of the blood pressure reading and represents the blood pressure when the heart contracts. The diastolic is the bottom number and represents when the heart is at rest.

There are many factors involved in if a person develops hypertension. Excess weight, certain foods including those with high fructose corn syrup, family history are just some things that affect a person’s risks of high blood pressure.

Gilead had designed Darusentan to be used to treat hypertension in patients that are not responsive to other high blood pressure drugs. The failure during late-stage drug trial means that those with such high blood pressure will not have Darusentan as an option of treatment in the future.

Written by Denise Clay
For Huliq