Corcept trial to evaluate Cushing’s and hypertension
Study aims to establish syndrome's prevalence in adults
A clinical trial aims to assess the prevalence of Cushing’s syndrome in adults with hard-to-treat high blood pressure.
The trial, called MOMENTUM (NCT06829537), plans to recruit 1,000 adults with hypertension (high blood pressure) that remains uncontrolled despite the use of at least three different types of medications designed to lower blood pressure, said Corcept Therapeutics, which is launching the trial.
All participants will undergo standard diagnostic tests to see how many of them have Cushing’s syndrome. The study, which will be carried out across 45 sites in the U.S., is not yet recruiting participants.
“The MOMENTUM trial will provide a deeper understanding of hypercortisolism as a potential underlying issue for patients with resistant hypertension,” Bill Guyer, Corcept’s chief development officer, said in a company press release. “Establishing the prevalence of hypercortisolism in this patient population will help clinicians better understand and address their patients’ needs.”
Results are expected by year-end, Guyer said.
Cushing’s and hypertension
Cushing’s syndrome is a broad term encompassing conditions driven by excessive levels of the hormone cortisol in the body, which is also referred to as hypercortisolism. Cushing’s disease is a specific form of the syndrome in which high cortisol levels are brought on by a tumor in the brain’s pituitary gland.
High blood pressure and diabetes are common complications of Cushing’s syndrome, but Cushing’s can make these issues hard to treat with conventional therapies that don’t address the underlying cause of excess cortisol. Having uncontrolled hypertension can also increase the risk of further health problems down the line.
The design of the MOMENTUM study is similar to that of CATALYST (NCT05772169), a study that Corcept ran to assess the prevalence of Cushing’s syndrome among adults with difficult-to-treat type 2 diabetes. Results suggested that nearly one in four people with hard-to-treat type 2 diabetes has Cushing’s syndrome.
“Resistant hypertension is a serious public health challenge,” said Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, lead investigator and steering committee member for the MOMENTUM study and professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “Patients whose hypertension remains in poor control despite receiving optimal care, including multiple medications, are at greater risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. We hope the data from this MOMENTUM trial will expand our understanding of the challenges these patients face and open up new opportunities for treatment.”
Corcept sells Korlym (mifepristone), a treatment that’s approved to control high blood sugar levels in certain adults with Cushing’s syndrome who have co-occurring type 2 diabetes or glucose intolerance. The company has said that better recognition of Cushing’s syndrome has helped drive sales of Korlym.
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