Add-On Treatment With Zilebesiran for Inadequately Controlled Hypertension
The KARDIA-2 Randomized Clinical Trial.
The KARDIA-2 trial showed that zilebesiran, an siRNA targeting hepatic angiotensinogen, significantly reduced blood pressure when added to existing antihypertensive therapy in patients with inadequately controlled hypertension. The twice-yearly injectable represents a novel approach to treatment-resistant blood pressure.
Objectives
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of zilebesiran vs placebo when added to a standard antihypertensive medication. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This phase 2, randomized, prospective, double-blinded trial enrolled adults with uncontrolled hypertension from 150 sites across 8 countries between January 2022 and June 2023. The final follow-up date was December 11, 2023, and analyses were conducted on March 1, 2024.
Methods
Eligible patients were initially randomized in cohorts to receive open-label run-in treatment for at least 4 weeks with indapamide 2.5 mg, amlodipine 5 mg, or olmesartan 40 mg (4:7:10 randomization), each administered once daily. Within cohorts, adherent patients with 24-hour mean ambulatory SBP of 130 mm Hg to 160 mm Hg were subsequently randomized (1:1) to additional blinded treatment to receive single subcutaneous doses of zilebesiran 600 mg or matching placebo. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary end point in each cohort was the difference between zilebesiran and placebo in change from baseline in 24-hour mean ambulatory SBP at 3 months.
Results
Of 1491 patients entering the run-in phase, 663 (130 receiving indapamide, 240 receiving amlodipine, and 293 receiving olmesartan) were randomized to receive zilebesiran (n = 332) or placebo (n = 331). The least-squares mean difference between zilebesiran and placebo in change from baseline to 3 months in 24-hour mean ambulatory SBP was -12.1 mm Hg (95% CI, -16.5 to -7.6; P < .001) for indapamide, -9.7 mm Hg (95% CI, -12.9 to -6.6; P < .001) for amlodipine, and -4.5 mm Hg (95% CI, -8.2 to -0.8; P = .02) for olmesartan. Across cohorts, more patients who received zilebesiran than placebo experienced hyperkalemia (18 [5.5%] vs 6 [1.8%]), hypotension (14 [4.3%] vs 7 [2.1%]), and acute kidney failure (16 [4.9%] vs 5 [1.5%]) events, but most episodes were mild and resolved without medical intervention.
Conclusions
In patients with uncontrolled hypertension despite treatment with indapamide, amlodipine, or olmesartan, the addition of single-dose zilebesiran resulted in significant SBP reductions compared with placebo at 3 months, with low rates of serious adverse events.
Join us
Join the Global Primary Care Cardio Network. Membership is free.
Would you like to tell us more about yourself?
Interests
We will send you an email with a link to confirm your registration.
