Aliskiren: The First Direct Renin Inhibitor for the Treatment of Hypertension

Brian Tomlinson, MD, FRCP; Miao Hu, BSc

Aliskiren is a new treatment for hypertension with the novel mechanism of inhibiting the activity of renin. It shows efficacy and tolerability similar to angiotensin receptor blockers when used as monotherapy for hypertension. When combined with a thiazide diuretic or amlodipine, the antihypertensive action of aliskiren was shown to be enhanced. When aliskiren is used in combination with other inhibitors of the renin–
angiotensin–aldosterone system, there appear to be some promising additional cardiac and renal benefits, which will be clarified in ongoing studies.