Mar. 10, 2025-- Corcept Therapeutics Inc., a commercial-stage company engaged in the discovery and development of medications to treat severe endocrinologic, oncologic, metabolic and neurologic disorders by modulating the effects of the hormone cortisol, recently announced the initiation of Momentum, a clinical trial examining the prevalence of endogenous hypercortisolism (Cushing’s syndrome) in patients with resistant hypertension.
The Momentum trial, which will enroll 1,000 patients across 45 sites in the U.S., will establish the prevalence of endogenous hypercortisolism in patients with resistant hypertension. Resistant hypertension is defined by the American Heart Association as elevated blood pressure despite the use of three or more antihypertensive medications in different classes, including a diuretic. Patients with a dexamethasone suppression test (DST) value greater than 1.8 µg/dL and dexamethasone levels greater than 140 ng/dL will be identified as having hypercortisolism and will undergo additional testing and adrenal imaging.
Momentum’s design is similar to Corcept’s CATALYST clinical trial, which demonstrated that one in four patients with difficult-to-control type 2 diabetes has hypercortisolism. The trial results also showed that hypercortisolism was even more common in patients who also had cardiovascular disease, particularly in those who needed three or more medications to manage their hypertension.
“Resistant hypertension is a serious public health challenge. Patients whose hypertension remains in poor control despite receiving optimal care, including multiple medications, are at greater risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality,” said Deepak L. Bhatt, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., Director of Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital and the Dr. Valentin Fuster Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “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.” Dr. Bhatt is a lead investigator and steering committee member for Momentum and a paid consultant to Corcept Therapeutics.
“The Momentum trial will provide a deeper understanding of hypercortisolism as a potential underlying issue for patients with resistant hypertension,” said Bill Guyer, PharmD, Corcept’s Chief Development Officer. “Establishing the prevalence of hypercortisolism in this patient population will help clinicians better understand and address their patients’ needs. We expect results from this study by year-end.”
For more information, visit Corcept.com.
January 14, 2025 
