High blood pressure is a widespread issue affecting millions of people worldwide. While many people manage their condition with daily medication, a common problem is forgetting to take the pills.
In fact, more than half of those with high blood pressure struggle to remember their daily medication, making it harder to control their blood pressure levels.
When blood pressure isn’t properly managed, it increases the risk of serious health problems like strokes, heart attacks, and even early death. Clearly, there is a need for a more convenient solution.
Enter Zilebesiran: A New Hope for Easier Blood Pressure Control
Researchers from various institutions, including the University of Edinburgh, have been testing a new drug called zilebesiran. This drug could be the breakthrough needed for easier blood pressure management.
What makes zilebesiran stand out is that it has the potential to lower blood pressure for up to six months after just one injection. For many people, this could mean saying goodbye to daily pills and enjoying longer-lasting relief.
Promising Results from the Tests
In clinical trials conducted in the UK, people who received zilebesiran experienced a significant drop in their systolic blood pressure. This is the top number in a blood pressure reading, indicating how hard the heart is pumping blood through the body.
Depending on the dose given, the reduction in blood pressure varied. People who received 200mg or more of the drug saw their blood pressure drop by over 10 mmHg, while those who received 800mg experienced a drop of more than 20 mmHg.
These changes could bring someone’s blood pressure into a healthier range, reducing the risk of serious complications.
How Zilebesiran Works
Zilebesiran is made by a U.S.-based company called Alnylam, and its method of action is different from traditional blood pressure medications.
The drug targets a specific hormone called angiotensin, which is known to cause blood vessels to narrow, thereby raising blood pressure. Zilebesiran works by stopping the production of a protein called angiotensinogen in the liver, which is the first step in creating angiotensin.
By blocking the gene that produces this protein, zilebesiran effectively prevents the hormone from being made, allowing blood vessels to stay relaxed and open, which helps lower blood pressure.
What’s Next for Zilebesiran?
In the initial study, 107 people with high blood pressure participated. Of these, 80 received a single injection of zilebesiran, while the remaining participants were given a placebo—a treatment with no active drug.
The early results are promising, but more research is needed to confirm that zilebesiran is safe for long-term use. The researchers are eager to carry out larger studies to assess the drug’s long-term effects and ensure that it doesn’t have any unexpected side effects.
Professor David Webb from the University of Edinburgh commented on the potential of this new treatment. “This is potentially a big step forward for treating high blood pressure.
We haven’t had a new type of drug for this in 17 years. This new approach could help people stick to their treatment plans. Our next steps will focus on safety and effectiveness before the drug can be approved for public use.”
The Future of High Blood Pressure Treatment
If future studies confirm the effectiveness and safety of zilebesiran, it could become a major advancement in how high blood pressure is treated.
Many people find it difficult to remember to take daily medication, and for them, a long-lasting injection could be a much more convenient option.
This could lead to better blood pressure control for millions of people and potentially lower the risks of serious health problems associated with high blood pressure.
In addition to new drug treatments like zilebesiran, it’s also important to stay informed about other ways to manage high blood pressure. Simple lifestyle changes, like eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and reducing salt intake, can have a big impact on blood pressure.
There are also studies that explore lesser-known causes of high blood pressure and how small habits, such as eating certain foods like potatoes, may benefit blood pressure control.
Zilebesiran has the potential to make life easier for people dealing with high blood pressure, but it will take more research before it becomes widely available. If you want to learn more about this study, the findings were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies that black licorice could cause dangerous high blood pressure, and this common plant nutrient could help reduce high blood pressure.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies about how coffee influence your risk of high blood pressure, and results showing this olive oil could reduce blood pressure in healthy people.
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