Pharma BD Deal Intelligence
AstraZeneca acquired CinCor Pharma in February 2023 for approximately $1.8 billion ($26.00/share upfront plus a $10.00/share contingent value right) to add baxdrostat, a first-in-class oral aldosterone synthase inhibitor, to its cardiorenal pipeline. The thesis was validated post-close: the pivotal BaxHTN Phase III trial met its primary endpoint (the 2 mg dose lowered seated systolic blood pressure by 15.7 mmHg from baseline and 9.8 mmHg vs placebo at 12 weeks), the data were published in NEJM and presented at ESC 2025, the US NDA was accepted under Priority Review on 2 December 2025, and on 18 May 2026 the FDA approved baxdrostat as BAXFENDY -- the first aldosterone synthase inhibitor for adults with hypertension inadequately controlled on other antihypertensives.