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Hypertension vaccine study results have been released

Results from a small study testing the safety and tolerability of the hypertension vaccine have been released.

The vaccine

The group of researchers from the University Hospital of the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland tested the vaccine on 72 people with hypertension. They had an average age of 51.5 years.

According to Medical News Today report "The vaccine targets angiotensin II, a molecule that constricts blood vessels and raises blood pressure. Angiotensin II is already the indirect target of several blood pressure medications."

Patients had injections at the start of the study and then at 4 and 12 weeks.

The results

Blood pressure changes were evaluated at week 14. Patients who had the vaccine reduced their systolic blood pressure by 5.6mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by 2.8mmHg.

The next step in developing the vaccine is for further trials. Researcher Dr Jones said the research is encouraging and "These investigators are pursuing novel approaches to hypertension control. While too early to evaluate whether this may be clinically useful, it is encouraging to see promising research results.

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