An international team of scientists tested zilebesiran, a drug that reduces blood pressure after a single injection by 4–12 points and maintains the effect for half a year.
Zilebesiran works using RNA interference technology: it blocks the production of angiotensinogen, which triggers mechanisms that increase blood pressure. As early as two weeks after the injection, the level of this protein drops by 90% and remains at that level for six months.
The injection does not fully replace usual medicines, but it can significantly enhance their effect. This may be especially important for patients whose blood pressure does not respond well to standard treatments. The drug is currently in Phase 3 of clinical trials.
According to the World Health Organization, nearly every other adult suffers from hypertension. For now, this is not a complete replacement for tablets, but it offers hope that in the future controlling high blood pressure may become less of an everyday burden and instead involve a brief visit to a doctor every six months.
