Similar to other ARBs, azilsartan is highly selective for AT1
receptors and has more than a 10,000-fold greater affinity for
AT1
versus AT2
receptors.50 Like many other ARBs, azilsartan
not only functions as a selective and competitive antagonist
that blocks angiotensin II stimulation of AT1
receptors in an
insurmountable fashion, it can also act as an inverse agonist
and inhibit AT1
receptor signaling that may occur in the
absence of angiotensin II.42 Although other ARBs can also
potently and selectively interfere with angiotensin II induced
activation of AT1
receptors in an insurmountable fashion, azilsartan
appears to be characterized by a greater potency and an
unusual capacity to persistently block AT1
receptors for longer
periods of time than most, if not all, competitor ARBs.4