Early research by Cytos Biotechnology AG's of its vaccine to control high blood pressure is showing promise. Scientists are hoping that the vaccine could one day replace the daily medication people with hypertension are required to take.
Yahoo News is reporting:
Researchers led by Dr. Juerg Nussberger of the University Hospital of the Canton of Vaud are exploring an approach that would involve periodic vaccinations rather than daily pills.
A small study presented at a meeting of the American Heart Association showed that the vaccine reduced blood pressure in people with mild to moderate hypertension.
In the study, 65 men and seven women with high blood pressure were injected with either a lower or higher dose of the vaccine or with a placebo. Average age was 51.
Those who got the vaccine mounted a strong antibody response against the hormone.
The patients who received the higher vaccine dose experienced significantly lower blood pressure -- with daytime systolic blood pressure (the top number of a blood pressure reading) dropping by 5.6 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) and their diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number of a blood pressure reading, measuring pressure as the heart rests between beats) by 2.8 mm Hg.
Patients in the study received injections at the beginning, at the four-week point and again at the twelve-week point. Researchers are hoping to extend the period of time between injections so that patients would only be required to get the vaccine every four months.
Nussberger expects wide usage of the vaccine to be available in 5 - 10 years.
"The problem we have with hypertension patients is compliance -- lifelong, they should take pills every day," Nussberger told reporters. "It reminds them every day, 'I am an old person, I am a sick person."'
[Source: Yahoo News]
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