A new medicine that may only need to be given a few times each year could change the way high blood pressure is treated.
Researchers have found that the experimental drug zilebesiran lowered blood pressure for months after a single injection, raising hopes for people who find it difficult to remember daily tablets. The findings were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
The study was led by Dr. George L. Bakris and colleagues from the University of Chicago.
It was a phase 2 clinical trial, which is designed to test how well a new treatment works while also carefully monitoring its safety before it moves to larger studies.
High blood pressure, also called hypertension, affects millions of people worldwide. It often causes no symptoms, but over time it can damage blood vessels and greatly increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney disease, and other serious health problems. Keeping blood pressure under control is one of the best ways to protect long-term health.
A total of 377 adults took part in the trial. Of these, 302 received zilebesiran and 75 received a placebo, which contains no active medicine and allows researchers to compare the results fairly.
Participants were given different doses, including 150 mg, 300 mg, or 600 mg, with some receiving injections every six months and others every three months.
Instead of relying on a single reading in a doctor’s office, the researchers measured blood pressure over 24 hours using portable monitors. This approach provides a more accurate picture because blood pressure naturally changes throughout the day and night.
The results were encouraging. After three months, people receiving zilebesiran had systolic blood pressure readings that were about 14 to 17 points lower than those in the placebo group. Six months after treatment, blood pressure remained lower in people who received the medicine, suggesting that its effects lasted for a long time.
The study also found that the treatment was generally well tolerated. Around 61% of participants taking zilebesiran experienced mild side effects such as headache or tiredness. Serious side effects occurred in only 3.6% of people receiving the drug, compared with 6.7% of those given the placebo.
One reason the drug has attracted attention is that it may not need to be taken every day. Many people struggle to remember daily medicines or stop taking them over time. A treatment that only requires an injection every three to six months could make it much easier for some patients to stay on schedule and keep their blood pressure under control.
The researchers also noted important limitations. The trial was sponsored by Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, the company developing zilebesiran, and some investigators reported financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies.
While these disclosures are common in clinical research, larger independent studies will be important to confirm both the benefits and long-term safety of the medicine.
Although the early findings are promising, zilebesiran is still being studied and is not yet a replacement for current blood pressure treatments. People should continue taking prescribed medicines unless their doctor advises otherwise.
Along with medication, healthy eating, regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting salt, avoiding smoking, and reducing alcohol intake remain important ways to control high blood pressure and lower the risk of heart disease and stroke.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies about what to eat and to avoid for high blood pressure, and 12 foods that lower blood pressure.
For more health information, please see recent studies about the connection between potato and high blood pressure, and how to eat your way to healthy blood pressure.
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