Efficacy and safety of the dual L- and T-type calcium channel blocker, ACT-280778: a proof-of-concept study in patients with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension

ACT-280778 is an oral, non-dihydropyridine, dual L-/T-type calcium channel blocker. This phase 2a, double-blind, randomized, placebo-and active-controlled study investigated the efficacy and safety of 10 mg ACT-280778. Patients with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension received once-daily placebo (n = 53), ACT-280778 10 mg (n = 52) or amlodipine 10 mg (n = 54) for 4 weeks. The primary end point was the change from baseline to week 4 in placebo-adjusted mean trough sitting diastolic blood pressure (SiDBP) with ACT-280778. Tolerability was assessed by recording treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs). Baseline clinical characteristics were similar across groups. No significant difference was observed at week 4 in mean trough SiDBP between placebo (-9.9 (95% confidence limit (CL) -12.7, -7.0) mmHg) and ACT-280778 (-9.5 (-12.4, -6.5) mmHg; P = 0.86); amlodipine reduced mean trough SiDBP by -16.8 (-19.0, -14.5) mmHg, confirming assay validity. Change in mean PR interval at week 4 (pre-dose) differed between placebo (-1.0 (95% CL -4.4, 2.3) ms) and ACT-280778 (6.5 (3.5, 9.6) ms); amlodipine did not increase PR interval (1.1 (-1.6, 3.9) ms). Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAE) frequency was 32.1% (placebo), 32.7% (ACT-280778) and 33.3% (amlodipine). The most common TEAEs were headache, peripheral edema, hypertension and second-degree atrioventricular block. ACT-280778 (10 mg) did not lower blood pressure in mild-to-moderate hypertension.