Daiichi Sankyo has announced the launch in Japan of MINNEBRO® Tablets 1.25 mg, 2.5 mg and 5 mg (generic name: esaxerenone; hereafter, the drug).

The drug is a novel, non-steroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor blocker identified during the research collaboration with Exelixis, Inc. (based in Alameda, California, U.S.), and has subsequently been developed by Daiichi Sankyo independently. Marketing approval for the indication of hypertension was received in January, 2019, on the basis of the results of a domestic phase 3 clinical trial (ESAX-HTN study) in patients with essential hypertension.

The mineralocorticoid receptor is a receptor for steroid hormones that control the blood’s electrolyte balance. Excessive activation of mineralocorticoid receptors has been found to be involved in hypertension.

Essential hypertension is the major form of hypertension accounting for 90% of hypertensive patients and is associated with heterogeneous factors like genetics and lifestyle habits, while secondary hypertension is the result of identified underlying disease factors.

Daiichi Sankyo expects the drug to benefit patients by providing a new therapeutic option for the treatment of hypertension.