Khaberni - Recent clinical trials have shown promising results for a new drug aimed at lowering harmful cholesterol levels.
The drug is used in individuals with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH), a genetic disorder that increases the risk of early cardiovascular disease.
This genetic disease affects about one in every 250 individuals, due to a mutation in a gene that reduces the body’s ability to eliminate harmful cholesterol, leading to the buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries and reduced blood flow to vital organs.
The new drug, called "Inclisiran" developed by Merck Pharmaceuticals, belongs to the class of PCSK9 inhibitors and works by blocking a protein in the blood that typically causes the destruction of liver receptors responsible for removing harmful cholesterol, thus enhancing the liver's ability to cleanse the blood and reducing the risk of heart disease.
The phase three trial was conducted over a full year and included 303 adults from 17 countries, all receiving cholesterol-lowering treatments like statins. Participants were randomly divided into two groups; one group received 20 mg of "Inclisiran" daily, while the other received a placebo.
Results after 24 weeks showed a 58.2% reduction in harmful cholesterol levels in the "Inclisiran" group, while there was almost no change in the placebo group. At the end of the year, patients maintained a 55.3% reduction, while harmful cholesterol levels in the other group increased by 8.7%.
The drug also contributed to reducing other molecules associated with the risk of heart disease, with "apolipoprotein B" levels decreasing by 48.2% and lipid protein by 24.7%.
The drug was generally described as safe, with a similar rate of side effects recorded as those who received the placebo (77.7% compared to 76.2%). Also, the number of participants who discontinued treatment due to side effects was very low (2% compared to 3%).
The researchers in their study published in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" confirmed that "in adults with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, (Inclisiran) is an effective and safe treatment for lowering harmful cholesterol levels."
Studies are currently ongoing to determine whether this significant reduction in cholesterol actually translates into a reduction in heart attacks and strokes, as researchers also aim to test the drug on broader groups of at-risk patients.
