A new drug called zilebesiran could give new hope to people who have high blood pressure. A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that this medicine may work well and be safe.
The research was led by Dr. George L. Bakris and his team at the University of Chicago. They wanted to see if zilebesiran could help lower blood pressure in real people and whether it would cause any serious problems.
The study was called a phase 2 trial. This means it tested how well the drug works and checked for side effects in a group of patients. In total, 377 adults joined the study. Out of those, 302 received zilebesiran, and 75 got a placebo, which is a treatment with no real medicine, used for comparison.
Participants got different amounts of the drug. Some received 150 mg, 300 mg, or 600 mg. Some people got the drug every six months, while others got 300 mg every three months. The researchers checked how these doses affected their blood pressure.
The results were promising. People who took zilebesiran saw a clear drop in their top blood pressure number, known as systolic blood pressure. This number measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats. It’s an important sign of heart health.
To get the most accurate results, the study used 24-hour blood pressure monitors instead of just one reading at the doctor’s office. This method gives a better overall picture of blood pressure.
At three months, people who got zilebesiran had blood pressure readings that were about 14 to 17 points lower than those who got the placebo. Even after six months, those taking the drug still had lower blood pressure. For example, people taking 300 mg every three months had a drop of about 10 points, while the placebo group actually saw their pressure go up by nearly 7 points.
As for side effects, about 61% of people taking zilebesiran had minor issues, like a mild headache or feeling tired. But only 3.6% had serious side effects. That’s actually lower than the placebo group, where 6.7% had serious problems.
This is important because many people don’t like taking pills every day. Zilebesiran might be taken only once every three to six months. That could make it easier for people to stick with their treatment.
The study was sponsored by the company that makes zilebesiran, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals. Some researchers involved in the study also had connections to drug companies. This doesn’t mean the results are untrue, but it does mean more independent research is needed to confirm the findings.
Still, zilebesiran looks like a promising new option for treating high blood pressure. It may help people who have trouble keeping their pressure under control with current medicines.
If you want to manage your blood pressure naturally, you can also look at recent research on eating more potassium-rich foods, taking certain vitamins, and following diets like the DASH diet. Some studies even show that foods like potatoes can affect blood pressure. But always talk to your doctor before changing your medicine or your diet.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about unhealthy habits that could increase high blood pressure risk, and eating eggs in a healthy diet may reduce risks of diabetes, high blood pressure.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and results showing 12 foods that lower blood pressure.
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