A new study led by researchers from Queen Mary University of London has found that a single injection given every six months could help people with high blood pressure keep their condition under better control.
The results, published in JAMA, offer hope for millions of people around the world who struggle to manage their blood pressure with pills alone.
The clinical trial, known as KARDIA-2, involved 663 participants from around the world. These people were already taking medication for high blood pressure, but their blood pressure levels remained too high.
In this trial, some participants continued on their usual medications, while others also received a new treatment called zilebesiran. This medicine is injected under the skin and works in a completely different way from traditional blood pressure drugs.
The results showed that those who received the injection saw a greater drop in their blood pressure compared to those who only took standard medicine. And what makes this treatment special is its long-lasting effect — just one shot can keep working for six months.
Dr. Manish Saxena, a high blood pressure expert at Queen Mary University of London and the study’s UK lead investigator, explained why this is important. “High blood pressure is a serious problem worldwide and is a leading cause of heart attacks and strokes,” he said.
“Many people don’t manage to control their blood pressure properly, even when they take medication every day. This new treatment could help change that. A single injection every six months could make it much easier for people to stay healthy.”
Zilebesiran uses a cutting-edge method called RNA interference. Instead of targeting symptoms, it works at the genetic level by stopping the liver from making a protein called angiotensinogen. This protein is involved in tightening blood vessels, which raises blood pressure. By reducing this protein, the blood vessels stay more relaxed, and blood pressure goes down.
While zilebesiran is still being tested and is not yet available to the public, these early results are promising. Researchers will continue to study it in new trials. One upcoming trial, called KARDIA-3, will look at how this treatment works in people who already have heart disease or are at high risk of it.
Later this year, an even larger study will begin to find out whether zilebesiran not only lowers blood pressure but also reduces the chances of heart attacks, strokes, and death from heart disease. This will be a key step in seeing whether the treatment can change the way high blood pressure is managed around the world.
The results from KARDIA-2 show a clear benefit: zilebesiran, when added to standard blood pressure medications, lowers blood pressure more effectively. One major advantage is convenience.
Instead of taking a pill every day — something many people forget or avoid — this injection only needs to be given twice a year. That could improve treatment compliance and reduce health risks caused by uncontrolled blood pressure.
The study also confirmed that zilebesiran was generally safe to use. However, as with all new treatments, longer and larger trials are needed to understand any long-term effects or rare side effects.
If future studies confirm these early findings, zilebesiran may become a powerful tool to help manage one of the world’s biggest health problems.
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The research findings can be found in JAMA.
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