Early trial shows zibotentan plus dapagliflozin trended toward lowering blood pressure in cirrhosis patients

This small Phase II exploratory study looked at patients with compensated cirrhosis, a stage where liver function is preserved. The researchers tested a combination of zibotentan and dapagliflozin against a placebo. Twenty-eight patients participated in the trial, which lasted for six weeks. The main goal was to see if the drug combination could lower the hepatic venous pressure gradient, a key measure of liver health. The results showed no clear difference between the treatment group and the placebo group for this specific liver pressure measure. However, the data did show a trend toward lower pressure in a specific subgroup of patients who started with higher baseline levels. The drug combination also reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure compared to the placebo. Safety was monitored closely throughout the six-week period. Three mild adverse events, specifically peripheral oedema, were reported in the treatment group and one in the placebo group. No serious adverse events were observed, and the treatment was generally well tolerated. Because this was a small, early study, the findings are not yet conclusive. Readers should understand that this trial provides initial safety and signal data but does not prove the drug works for everyone. More research is needed before this approach can be recommended for standard care.