Monday, May 14, 2007

A Vaccine for Hypertension

Filed under: Medicine

If you're not a fan of taking daily medication to control your high blood pressure, then British scientists may have a solution for you.

British scientists have developed a vaccine to control high blood pressure which could save tens of thousands of lives a year in the UK alone.

Based on a protein found in limpets, it would need a course of just three jabs, with a booster every six months.

Now the Cheshire-based drug firm Protherics says its vaccine will make it much easier for people to control their blood pressure.

"Improving compliance in this way could save thousands from life-threatening complications such as heart attack or stroke," said the company's Dr Andrew Heath.

The jab, which has been successfully tested on people, uses the limpet protein to attack a hormone called angiotensin, which is produced by the liver.

Angiotensin raises blood pressure by narrowing arteries. The vaccine, however, turns the body's immune system against the hormone.

Protherics is planning trials of an improved version of the jab, which is ten times more effective at stimulating the immune system than its original formula.

People who have tried it have suffered few side-effects, although one in ten did complain of a brief, flu-like illness.

Daily Mail...

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