Alnylam's RNAi therapeutic candidate, zilebesiran, demonstrated effectiveness in lowering systolic blood pressure in patients with uncontrolled hypertension.

A single subcutaneous injection of zilebesiran led to an average reduction of 4 to 12 mmHg in systolic blood pressure over three months.

The reduction was achieved in addition to standard antihypertensive medication and without raising new serious safety concerns.

Zilebesiran functions by blocking the production of the hormone angiotensinogen, which is involved in blood vessel constriction and blood pressure regulation.

Administered once every three or six months, zilebesiran could simplify hypertension treatment by reducing dependency on daily medication.

Encouraging results from the mid-stage trial have paved the way for a Phase 3 trial to further assess the drug's efficacy and safety.