New Blood Pressure Drug Cuts Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke by 20%

Zilebesiran, a first-in-class RNA-based drug, is showing stunning results in controlling high blood pressure and reducing cardiovascular risk.

More than a billion people around the world live with high blood pressure, and it remains one of the deadliest—but most treatable—health conditions globally. Now, researchers may have found a game-changing new way to manage it.

A recent Phase II clinical trial published in Nature Medicine reveals that Zilebesiran—a novel RNA interference (RNAi) therapy—can lower blood pressure dramatically and sustain the effect for up to six months with a single dose. Even more impressive: early analyses suggest a potential 20% reduction in the risk of heart attacks and strokes among high-risk patients.

Unlike most current treatments, which require daily medication and often come with adherence challenges, Zilebesiran silences the gene that controls production of angiotensinogen—a key driver of blood pressure regulation. By addressing the problem at the genetic level, it offers long-lasting control with fewer side effects.

The implications are enormous. Cardiovascular disease remains the leading global cause of death, and current treatment models are heavily reliant on patient compliance. This new therapy could significantly reduce healthcare burdens, especially in populations where regular access to medication or care is limited.

The drug still has to pass through larger Phase III trials before full regulatory approval, but the early data is already generating excitement in the cardiology and public health communities. If successful, it could become the foundation of a new class of therapies that redefine how we treat chronic conditions—less daily maintenance, more durable protection.

Sometimes, the biggest medical breakthroughs aren’t dramatic surgeries or high-tech implants—but a smarter way to fix what’s broken at the source.