A new study suggests that a single injection given every six months could help lower blood pressure in patients who do not respond well to regular medication, offering a potential new way to manage hypertension.
The findings, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, come from a global clinical trial led by researchers at Queen Mary University of London.
The trial, known as KARDIA-2, involved 663 adults whose high blood pressure remained poorly controlled despite taking standard medicines.
Participants who received the experimental drug zilebesiran alongside their usual treatment showed greater reductions in blood pressure compared to those who continued with standard therapy alone, researchers said.
High blood pressure is a major global health concern and a leading cause of heart attacks, strokes and death if left untreated. In the UK, it affects about one in three adults.
Dr Manish Saxena, a hypertension specialist at Barts Health NHS Trust and a lead researcher in the study, said the results highlight both the effectiveness and safety of the new treatment.
He noted that the long-lasting nature of the injection could make it easier for patients to manage their condition, as it requires only two doses a year.
Zilebesiran works using RNA interference technology to lower blood pressure. It blocks the production of angiotensinogen, a protein made in the liver that helps regulate blood pressure. Reducing this protein allows blood vessels to relax, leading to lower pressure levels. The drug is given as an injection under the skin.
Researchers are continuing to study the drug in a follow-up trial, KARDIA-3, to assess its benefits for patients with high blood pressure who also have cardiovascular disease or are at high risk.
A larger global study is also planned later this year to examine whether the treatment can reduce serious outcomes such as strokes and cardiovascular-related deaths.
The research was funded by Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, with Barts Health NHS Trust serving as a key trial site and the leading enrolment centre in Europe.
Source: Science daily