Is allisartan isoproxil effective and safe for high blood pressure?

This paper studied the effectiveness and safety of allisartan isoproxil in patients with high blood pressure. 

Hypertension refers to high blood pressure. This can lead to serious complications over time such as heart disease and damage to kidneys. One type of treatment for hypertension involves blocking the action of angiotensin (a molecule), to reduce levels of fluid in the body. Allisartan isoproxil is a new drug that works to block angiotensin. Early studies have suggested that it could be safe and effective. 

This study included 275 Chinese patients with high blood pressure and with low-medium risk of heart disease. Patients were randomly assigned to receive allisartan isoproxil (137 patients) or placebo (a substance with no effect on the body, 138 patients). The average blood pressure at the start of the study was 151.2/95.4 mmHg.

After 8 weeks, among patients who received allisartan isoproxil, systolic blood pressure (pressure when heart beats) decreased by 14.5 mmHg while diastolic blood pressure (pressure when heart relaxes) decreased by 10.4 mmHg. Among patients who received placebo, systolic blood pressure decreased by 8.3 mmHg while diastolic blood pressure decreased by 7.7 mmHg. At week 8, 67.2% of patients who received allisartan isoproxil and 48.6% of patients who received a placebo had effective blood pressure control.

27.7% of patients receiving allisartan isoproxil had at least one adverse event (undesired effect of drug). 25.4% of patients receiving placebo had at least one adverse event. Frequency of adverse events was similar among patients who received allisartan isoproxil and patients who received placebo.  There were no deaths and no serious adverse events during the study. Adverse drug reactions (injury caused by drug) occurred among 8.8% patients receiving allisartan isoproxil and 10.1% of patients receiving placebo. Most common adverse drug reactions included high levels of fats in the blood (such as cholesterol), dizziness, and headache. 

The authors concluded that allisartan isoproxil was effective and safe for patients with high blood pressure and a low-medium risk of heart problems.

This study was conducted in an Asian population. It may be that the treatment is not as effective in other ethnicities.