High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a serious condition that affects millions of people around the world. It often has no symptoms, but if left untreated, it can lead to strokes, heart attacks, kidney problems, and even death.
Most people who have high blood pressure need to take medicine every day to keep it under control. But taking pills daily isn’t always easy. Many people forget or stop taking their medicine, which can lead to dangerous health problems.
Now, scientists may have found a new way to make things easier—a single injection that could control blood pressure for up to six months. This new drug, called Zilebesiran, is showing very promising results in early studies.
The problem with daily medication is that it relies on people remembering to take it, sometimes multiple times a day. Studies show that more than half of patients do not take their blood pressure pills as prescribed. Skipping medication, even occasionally, can cause blood pressure to rise suddenly, which increases the risk of serious events like strokes or heart attacks.
To solve this problem, researchers at the University of Edinburgh, along with other experts, have been studying Zilebesiran. In early trials, patients who received this injection had a big drop in blood pressure. Even better, the effect lasted for six months after just one dose.
Zilebesiran works differently from most blood pressure drugs. It targets a hormone called angiotensin, which causes blood vessels to tighten and raise blood pressure. Most current drugs block this hormone in one way or another.
But Zilebesiran goes further—it actually shuts down the gene that creates the protein responsible for making this hormone. This means it stops the problem at its source, which may lead to longer-lasting and more stable results.
The numbers from the trial are impressive. Some patients saw their blood pressure drop by more than 10 points. Others, who received a higher dose, had a drop of more than 20 points.
That’s enough to go from dangerously high blood pressure to a much safer level. Even more exciting is that this drug helps keep blood pressure steady throughout the day, which is important because blood pressure naturally rises and falls. Having a more constant level could prevent sudden spikes that put stress on the heart.
The drug was developed by Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, a company in the United States. The first study included 107 people, and 80 of them received Zilebesiran. So far, there haven’t been any serious side effects reported, which is a good sign.
Still, more research is needed before the drug can be approved and used widely. Larger and longer-term studies will help scientists understand how safe and effective it is in the long run.
Professor David Webb, a researcher involved in the study, said this is the first time in nearly 20 years that a new type of blood pressure treatment has shown this kind of potential. If Zilebesiran continues to perform well in future studies, it could change the way we treat high blood pressure.
For people who struggle to take pills every day, a twice-a-year injection could be life-changing. It would not only make it easier to manage the condition but also reduce the risk of forgetting to take medicine and facing serious health problems.
Although Zilebesiran is still being tested, the early results offer hope for a future where managing high blood pressure is simpler, safer, and more effective.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and coconut sugar could help reduce blood pressure and artery stiffness.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies about added sugar in your diet linked to higher blood pressure, and results showing plant-based foods could benefit people with high blood pressure.
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