Peter Jonáš
Therapeutic modulation of the renin angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) plays the key role in effective hypertension management as well as in the cardiovascular and renal protection. Aliskiren is the first direct renin inhibitor that has been approved by the European Medicines Agency for the treatment of hypertension. Aliskiren is orally available highly specific and effective inhibitor of human renin with multiple favourable pharmacologic properties. Good antihypertensive efficacy in monotherapy and comparison with some of the basic antihypertensive class representatives (HCTZ, ramipril, valsartan) and its wide combination potential with other antihypertensives has been confirmed within the program of clinical development. Aliskiren has placebo-like tolerability in monotherapy and is well tolerated in combinations. The ASPIRE HIGHER clinical research program is evaluating the organ protection potential and clinical outcomes benefits of direct renin inhibition with aliskiren and may broaden its future clinical use in new indications.