Takeda seeks FDA approval for hypertension treatment

OSAKA, Japan — Drug maker Takeda has filed for regulatory approval of a drug to treat hypertension, the company said Wednesday.

Takeda announced that it had submitted an application with the Food and Drug Administration for the fixed-dose drug azilsartan medoxomil and chlorthalidone. Azilsartan medoxomil is an angiotensin II receptor blocker, or ARB, that lowers blood pressure by blocking the angiotensin II hormone.

“Millions of patients with hypertension do not have their condition under control,” said Darryl Sleep, VP clinical science at Takeda Global Research and Development Center. “We believe this compound, the first [in the United States] to combine an ARB with chlorthalidone, could potentially provide an important new treatment option for patients with hypertension and the healthcare providers who manage them.”