Antihypertensives are a class of drugs that are used to treat hypertension. Antihypertensive therapy seeks to prevent the complications of high blood pressure, such as stroke, heart failure, kidney failure and myocardial infarction. Evidence suggests that reduction of the blood pressure by 5 mmHg can decrease the risk of stroke by 34% and of ischaemic heart disease by 21%, and can reduce the likelihood of dementia, heart failure, and mortality from cardiovascular disease. There are many classes of antihypertensives, which lower blood pressure by different means. Among the most important and most widely used medications are thiazide diuretics, calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor antagonists (ARBs), and beta blockers.
Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), formally angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1) antagonists, also known as angiotensin receptor blockers, angiotensin II receptor antagonists, or AT1 receptor antagonists, are a group of pharmaceuticals that bind to and inhibit the angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1) and thereby block the arteriolar contraction and sodium retention effects of renin–angiotensin system.
Irbesartan, sold under the brand name Avapro among others, is a medication used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure, and diabetic kidney disease. It is a reasonable initial treatment for high blood pressure. It is taken by mouth. Versions are available as the combination irbesartan/hydrochlorothiazide.
Omalizumab, sold under the brand name Xolair, is an injectable medication to treat severe persistent allergic forms of asthma, nasal polyps, urticaria (hives), and immunoglobulin E-mediated food allergy.
Sitaxentan sodium (TBC-11251) is a medication for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). It was marketed as Thelin by Encysive Pharmaceuticals until Pfizer purchased Encysive in February 2008. In 2010, Pfizer voluntarily removed sitaxentan from the market due to concerns about liver toxicity.
Valsartan, sold under the brand name Diovan among others, is a medication used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure, and diabetic kidney disease. It belongs to a class of medications referred to as angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs). It is a reasonable initial treatment for high blood pressure. It is taken by mouth.
Pitolisant, sold under the brand name Wakix among others, is a medication used for the treatment of excessive daytime sleepiness in adults with narcolepsy. It is a histamine 3 (H3) receptor antagonist/inverse agonist (an antihistamine drug specific to that kind of receptors). It represents the first commercially available medication in its class, so that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) declares it a first-in-class medication. Pitolisant enhances the activity of histaminergic neurons in the brain that function to improve a person's wakefulness. It was approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in March 2016 for narcolepsy with or without cataplexy, and for excessive daytime sleepiness by the FDA in August 2019. The most common side effects include difficulty sleeping, nausea, and feeling worried.
Fostamatinib, sold under the brand names Tavalisse and Tavlesse, is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor medication for the treatment of chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). The drug is administered by mouth.
Difelikefalin, sold under the brand name Korsuva, is an opioid peptide used for the treatment of moderate to severe itch. It acts as a peripherally-restricted, highly selective agonist of the κ-opioid receptor (KOR).
Finerenone, sold under the brand name Kerendia and Firialta, is a medication used to reduce the risk of kidney function decline, kidney failure, cardiovascular death, non-fatal heart attacks, and hospitalization for heart failure in adults with chronic kidney disease associated with type 2 diabetes. Finerenone is a non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA). It is taken orally.
Inebilizumab, sold under the brand name Uplizna, is a medication for the treatment of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) in adults. Inebilizumab is a humanized mAb that binds to and depletes CD19+ B cells including plasmablasts and plasma cells.
Fezolinetant, sold under the brand name Veozah among others, is a medication used for the treatment of hot flashes (vasomotor symptoms) due to menopause. It is a small-molecule, orally active, selective neurokinin-3 (NK3) receptor antagonist which is under development by for the treatment of sex hormone-related disorders. It is taken by mouth. It is developed by Astellas Pharma which acquired it from Ogeda (formerly Euroscreen) in April 2017.
Voxelotor, sold under the brand name Oxbryta, is a medication used for the treatment of sickle cell disease. Voxelotor is the first hemoglobin oxygen-affinity modulator. Voxelotor has been shown to have disease-modifying potential by increasing hemoglobin levels and decreasing hemolysis indicators in sickle cell patients. It has a safe profile in sickle cell patients and healthy volunteers, without any dose-limiting toxicity. It was developed by Global Blood Therapeutics, a subsidiary of Pfizer.
Pemigatinib, sold under the brand name Pemazyre, is an anti-cancer medication used for the treatment of bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma). Pemigatinib works by blocking FGFR2 in tumor cells to prevent them from growing and spreading.
Adagrasib, sold under the brand name Krazati, is an anticancer medication used to treat non-small cell lung cancer. Adagrasib is an inhibitor of the RAS GTPase family. It is taken by mouth. It is being developed by Mirati Therapeutics.
Relugolix/estradiol/norethisterone acetate, sold under the brand names Myfembree and Ryeqo, is a fixed-dose combination hormonal medication which is used for the treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding associated with uterine leiomyomas (fibroids) and for moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis. It contains relugolix, an orally active gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist, estradiol, an estrogen, and norethisterone acetate, a progestin. The medication is taken by mouth.
Avacopan, sold under the brand name Tavneos, is a medication used to treat anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody-associated vasculitis. Avacopan is a complement 5a receptor antagonist and a cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitor.
Efgartigimod alfa, sold under the brand name Vyvgart, is a medication used to treat myasthenia gravis. Efgartigimod alfa is a neonatal Fc receptor blocker and is a new class of medication. It is an antibody fragment that binds to the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn), preventing FcRn from recycling immunoglobulin G (IgG) back into the blood. The medication causes a reduction in overall levels of IgG, including the abnormal acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies that are present in myasthenia gravis. It is also available coformulated with hyaluronidase.
Spesolimab, sold under the brand name Spevigo, is a monoclonal antibody used for the treatment of generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP). It is an interleukin-36 receptor (IL-36R) antagonist. It is given via injection into a vein.
Aprocitentan, sold under the brand name Tryvio, is a medication used to treat hypertension. It is developed by Idorsia. It is taken by mouth.
