Azilsartan

Azilsartan (codenamed TAK-536) is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist used in the treatment of hypertension. Azilsartan potently inhibited vascular cell proliferation in the absence of exogenously supplemented angiotensin II. Azilsartan increased tissue glucose uptake, especially in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. In cultured 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, azilsartan enhanced adipogenesis and exerted greater effects than valsartan on expression of genes encoding peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARα), PPARδ, leptin, adipsin, and adiponectin. In adipose tissue, Azilsartan (TAK-536) reduced TNF-alpha expression but increased the expression of adiponectin, PPARgamma, C/EBalpha, and aP2. In addition, azilsartan downregulated 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 expression. Azilsartan is currently in a phase IV clinical trial in the treatment of hypertension.