A clinical trial has collected data, the analysis of which confirms that the first-in-class direct renin inhibitor Rasilez® (aliskiren), known as Tekturna® in the US, reduces blood pressure levels more significantly in obese patients with high blood pressure compared to the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) alone. Obese patients with high blood pressure have an increased risk of cardiovascular and kidney disease. Rasilez/Tekturna is approved in 55 countries. It was approved in the US  and the European Union in 2007. The drug was discovered by Novartis and developed in collaboration with Speedel.