What are renin inhibitor drugs?

A selective renin inhibitor, Aliskiren is available for the treatment ofhypertension. Aliskiren directly inhibits renin and, thus, acts earlier in the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system than ACE inhibitors or ARBs It lowers blood pressure about as effectively as ARBs, ACE inhibitors, andthiazides. Aliskiren should not be routinely combined with an ACE inhibitor or ARB. Aliskiren can cause diarrhea, especially at higher doses, and can also causecough and angioedema, but probably less often than ACE inhibitors. As with ACE inhibitors and ARBs, aliskiren is contraindicated duringpregnancy.