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Daily Record
Daily Record
Health
Ketsuda Phoutinane

High blood pressure 'game-changing' treatment could see you stop taking pills

Daily high blood pressure medication could be replaced by a jab given every six months.

Researchers said the long-lasting drug, if successful, could change how the condition is treated.

High blood pressure, which is also known as hypertension, rarely has noticeable symptoms but considerably raises the risk of heart attack or stroke if left untreated.

A study is looking to test Zilebesiran, an injection-based drug, for over three years.

Some 100 patients across the UK will be part of the 630 patients worldwide involved in the new trial by Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and Barts Health NHS Trust.

High blood pressure is one of the most common conditions among adults in the UK and about a third of adults suffer from it.

Key risk factors include being overweight, a poor diet with excess salt and not enough fruit and vegetables, along with smoking and a lack of exercise.

People with high blood pressure typically take pills once a day (Getty Images)

It is typically treated by taking pills once a day and ACE inhibitors are the most commonly prescribed medication.

Providing a wider choice of treatment options to patients will be beneficial as half of people with high blood pressure are not diagnosed or receiving treatment, according to the British Heart Foundation.

"We are excited to be trialling this first of its kind approach to research if it is safe and effective for the treatment of high blood pressure," said Dr Manish Saxena, study lead and Deputy Clinical Director at Queen Mary University of London, Hypertension Specialist at Barts Health NHS Trust.

"Solving health challenges on this scale cannot be achieved by one person or entity alone. We are thrilled to be working alongside Alnylam and combining our expertise to hopefully change modern medicine."

Zilebesiran is what's called an investigational RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutic.

It targets a protein produced by the liver and involved in regulating blood pressure called angiotensinogen (AGT).

The drug is administered under the skin and is designed to inhibit the production of AGT, preventing the constriction of blood vessels which may help reduce elevated blood pressure.

The research is funded by Alnylam Pharmaceuticals with Barts Health NHS Trust serving as the lead site for the trial.

It is supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

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