AstraZeneca’s newly approved hypertension drug Baxfendy failed an effectiveness-versus-price cost-effectiveness screen from the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER). In a draft report, ICER said the drug did not clear traditional thresholds when modeled using a wholesale acquisition cost placeholder of $900 for 30 tablets, translating to an annual cost of roughly $10,800. ICER noted limitations in cross-trial comparisons and said its analysis could not establish whether one agent provides superior blood-pressure lowering, but it still concluded the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios for Baxfendy’s drug class were well above common thresholds. The review also extended to Mineralys Therapeutics’ investigational aldosterone synthase inhibitor lorundrostat, reaching a similar conclusion on cost-effectiveness, with ICER characterizing benefits as “promising but inconclusive.” For AstraZeneca and Mineralys, the report may influence payer discussions, formulary positioning, and negotiation strategy even after FDA authorization.