ATC Group: C09X Other agents acting on the renin-angiotensin system

Aliskiren is an orally active, non-peptide, potent and selective direct inhibitor of human renin. By inhibiting the enzyme renin, aliskiren inhibits the RAAS at the point of activation, blocking the conversion of angiotensinogen to angiotensin I and decreasing levels of angiotensin I and angiotensin II.

Combination of two antihypertensive active substances to control blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension. Aliskiren belongs to the class of direct renin inhibitors and hydrochlorothiazide to the class of thiazide diuretics. The combination of these substances with complementary mechanisms of action provides an additive antihypertensive effect, reducing blood pressure to a greater degree than either component alone.

Sparsentan is a dual endothelin angiotensin receptor antagonist. It is a single molecule that functions as a high affinity, dual-acting antagonist of both the ET_AR and AT₁R. Endothelin 1, via ET_AR, and angiotensin II, via AT₁R, mediate processes that lead to IgAN progression through haemodynamic actions and mesangial cell proliferation, increased expression and activity of proinflammatory and profibrotic mediators, podocyte injury, and oxidative stress. Sparsentan inhibits activation of both ET_AR and AT₁R and thereby reduces proteinuria and slows the progression of kidney disease.