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A groundbreaking investigational therapy for hypertension, zilebesiran, has shown significant promise in the latest phase 2 study, offering hope for improved management of this prevalent condition. Developed by Alnylam Pharmaceuticals in collaboration with Roche, zilebesiran employs RNA interference technology to target the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, a key regulator of blood pressure.
The KARDIA-2 phase 2 study, which evaluated zilebesiran as an adjunct to standard-of-care antihypertensive medications, yielded encouraging top-line results. According to a press release from Alnylam, participants receiving zilebesiran experienced clinically and statistically significant reductions in 24-hour mean systolic blood pressure compared to those on placebo, as assessed by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring at month 3. Importantly, these reductions were consistent across different patient cohorts receiving various background antihypertensive therapies.
Moreover, zilebesiran demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability profile when combined with standard-of-care medications, further supporting its potential as a promising therapeutic option for hypertension.
The full study results, including additional endpoints such as changes in office blood pressure measurements and diastolic blood pressure, will be presented at the upcoming 2024 American College of Cardiology Annual Scientific Session on April 7.
These positive findings build upon the success of the KARDIA-1 phase 2 study, which previously reported favorable outcomes for zilebesiran. Encouraged by these results, Alnylam and Roche have initiated the global KARDIA-3 phase 2 study, aimed at evaluating zilebesiran’s efficacy and safety as an add-on therapy for patients with uncontrolled hypertension despite treatment with multiple standard-of-care medications.
Hypertension affects approximately one in three adults worldwide, with a significant proportion remaining uncontrolled despite available treatments. Alnylam highlights the pressing need for innovative therapies like zilebesiran, particularly given the challenges of adherence and inconsistent blood pressure control associated with current standard-of-care oral medications.
The initiation of the KARDIA-3 study underscores the commitment of Alnylam and Roche to addressing this unmet medical need and improving outcomes for patients at high cardiovascular risk. With hypertension contributing to serious complications such as stroke and myocardial infarction, the potential of zilebesiran offers a beacon of hope for millions of individuals worldwide battling this prevalent condition.
