Source – Roche
Roche has recently unveiled an exciting collaboration with Alnylam to jointly develop and commercialize zilebesiran, a promising investigational RNAi therapeutic currently in Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of hypertension. Hypertension, affecting over 1.2 billion adults worldwide, stands as a significant, independent, and preventable risk factor for death and disability. Regrettably, approximately 80% of adults with hypertension struggle to effectively manage their blood pressure.
Based on encouraging Phase I data, zilebesiran has the potential to become a leading-edge treatment, offering transformative benefits, particularly for patients with hypertension facing high cardiovascular risk. Its innovative biannual subcutaneous dosing regime could enhance treatment adherence and compliance. Moreover, zilebesiran may extend its patient benefits to addressing other cardiovascular indications marked by high unmet medical needs.
“We are excited to work together with Alnylam and leverage our strong R&D capabilities, our leadership in cardiovascular diagnostics and our global commercial footprint to further develop and provide this promising therapy with best-in-disease potential to patients. Throughout our history, we have redefined the standard of care across various disease areas. Together with a strong partner like Alnylam, we are looking forward to making a significant impact for patients living with hypertension at high cardiovascular risk and potentially other cardiovascular indications.”
– Teresa Graham, CEO Roche Pharma
During the Phase I study, zilebesiran demonstrated dose-dependent reductions in serum angiotensinogen (AGT) compared to placebo. The treatment achieved steady blood pressure control, resulting in consistent and durable reductions in blood pressure over a 24-hour period. These effects were sustained for up to six months after single doses of ≥200 mg. Furthermore, zilebesiran displayed a favorable safety profile, supporting its continued clinical development. Its safety and efficacy are currently under investigation in Alnylam’s KARDIA Phase 2 clinical program, either as a monotherapy (KARDIA-1) or in combination with one of three standard-of-care antihypertensive medications (KARDIA-2).
“We are thrilled to announce this collaboration, as it combines Alnylam’s proven track record in RNAi therapeutics with Roche’s global commercial reach, commitment to innovation and desire to transform the landscape for patients with severe cardiovascular diseases. With this collaboration, we now can develop zilebesiran in a more robust way, allowing us to have cardiovascular outcomes data in hand at launch to ensure results relevant not only for health authorities but also for access and clinical practice in order to ultimately reach as many patients as possible.”
– Yvonne Greenstreet MBChB, Chief Executive Officer of Alnylam
