The United Arab Emirates has become the first country in the world to approve a new hypertension medication known as Baxfendy, a development medical experts are describing as a major breakthrough in the treatment of high blood pressure.
The drug, approved by the Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE), is designed to help patients whose blood pressure remains dangerously high despite using several existing medications.
Health experts say the approval comes at a critical time as hypertension cases continue to rise globally and across the Gulf region. High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, and other serious health complications.
According to the EDE Director-General, Dr Fatima Al Kaabi, the approval reflects the UAE’s commitment to advancing access to innovative medical treatments, especially for conditions that do not respond well to traditional therapies.
Doctors say Baxfendy works differently from most existing blood pressure drugs. Rather than simply easing symptoms, the medication blocks the production of aldosterone, a hormone responsible for causing the body to retain salt and water. By reducing the hormone, the drug helps the body remove excess fluid, relax blood vessels, and lower blood pressure more effectively.
A family medicine consultant at Burjeel Medical City in Abu Dhabi, Dr Salam Raad Bahjat Kashmoola, described the medication as a “significant advancement” in cardiovascular treatment.
According to him, response rates among patients who previously failed to respond to conventional therapies ranged between 40 and 70 percent, giving hope to individuals struggling with resistant hypertension.
He added that the drug represents a major shift in treatment because it targets the hormonal source of hypertension itself, unlike older medications that mainly focus on controlling symptoms after the hormone has already been produced.
Medical experts also believe the treatment could improve protection against cardiovascular and kidney diseases, particularly among high-risk patients.
The approval comes amid growing concerns over rising hypertension levels in the UAE. A 2025 study published in the Journal of Hypertension revealed that more than 35 percent of Emiratis surveyed in Abu Dhabi had high blood pressure, a sharp increase from previous years.
Other studies have shown hypertension rates are also increasing among young adults and university students, often linked to poor diet, inactivity, and unhealthy lifestyles.
Despite the excitement surrounding the new medication, doctors continue to stress the importance of lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, healthy eating, weight control, and reduced salt intake in managing blood pressure naturally.
The drug was developed by pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, which says the treatment has already shown strong results in clinical trials involving patients whose hypertension could not be controlled with standard medications.
