 Patients with chronic kidney disease CKD have higher blood pressures than the general population. They also tend to have protein leaking into the urine proteinuria. CKD, high blood pressure and proteinuria independently and together increase the risk of developing atherosclerosis hardening of the arteries that leads to diseases such as heart attack and stroke. Although there are a number of drugs available that lower blood pressure, these are not always fully effective. Furthermore, there are even fewer drugs that simultaneously lower blood pressure, reduce proteinuria, and slow down kidney damage in CKD. 