The injection works by tricking the immune system into neutralizing a hormone which commands blood vessels to constrict and increase blood pressure. An ongoing clinical trial involving 72 participants with mild to moderate hypertension indicated a decrease in blood pressure. The injection is best taken early morning when strokes and heart attacks often occur.
The revolutionary drug is expected to save millions of lives around the world. In U.K. alone, 125,000 strokes and heart attacks are recorded every year, with a 50 percent mortality rate. One in three adults or 16 million Britons have high blood pressure and are at risk for stroke and heart attacks.
The present medication for high blood sufferers is usually five different pills including ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blocks, calcium channel blockers, diuretics and beta blockers. Among its side effects are impotence, diarrhea, nausea and fatigue.
The vaccine, to be shot only thrice a year, has lesser side effects, particularly flu-like symptoms. Cytos plans to conduct larger clinical trials next year.
Dr. Martin Bachmann of Cytos said the injection will solve the problem of high blood patients forgetting to take their medicine. "Hypertension is asymptomatic. If you don't take your pills you don't notice anything - until you have a heart attack or stroke... If we can solve the issue of people not complying and if we can demonstrate the vaccine is safe in larger trials, then we could possibly save the lives of tens of thousands of people," Bachmann said.
