There was also no significant difference in the rate of major cardiovascular events like heart attack or stroke (4.6% in the bempedoic acid group and 5.7% in the placebo group). In a second study, also published in the NEJM, the team looked at data from more than half a million people and used genetic markers to model the likely effects of the treatment (blocking the action of the key enzyme ATP citrate) over a longer period and comparing the likely effects to the key enzyme blocked by statins. After three months of treatment researchers found that bempedoic acid reduced patients' LDL cholesterol levels from baseline by an average of 18.1% compared to the placebo group. Too much LDL cholesterol (commonly called "bad cholesterol") in the blood can lead to plaques which clog blood vessels and increase the chance of heart attack and stroke. The main outcome of interest was whether the treatment was safe and did not cause any serious side effects. Half of all people who are prescribed statins for the prevention of coronary heart disease fail to reach target cholesterol levels two years later, according to a new study. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no They found that the effects of inhibiting the enzyme over longer time scale reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease with no obvious adverse effects of blocking this pathway. Almeda suggested a new treatment, specifically tailored for lowering elevated LDL cholesterol, called PCSK9 (proprotein covertase subtilisin/kexin tyoe 9) inhibitors. the Louisville Metabolic and Atherosclerosis Research Center However, this new drug could provide real benefit for the few people who can't ... on top of their usual medication. THURSDAY, March 14, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- People whose high cholesterol is resistant to treatment with statin drugs may soon have a new treatment option. FDA Approves New Cholesterol-Lowering Drug. This was a randomised controlled trial (RCT) looking at a new treatment to lower LDL cholesterol. In the latest study, a total of 2,230 patients with high cholesterol levels (at least 1.8 mmol/L or 70 mg/dl) and taking cholesterol-lowering drugs (high or moderate intensity dose statins and/or ezetimibe) were randomly chosen to receive either the new treatment or placebo for one year. Your feedback will go directly to Science X editors. It could be an option for patients who are unable to tolerate statins at higher doses, or at all. The drug hasn't been shown to be better than statins and is unlikely to replace them – if licensed it would probably be used alongside. Patients were drawn from the UK, Germany, Poland, Canada and the US, and were on varying intensities of cholesterol-lowering treatment regimens. Science X Daily and the Weekly Email Newsletter are free features that allow you to receive your favorite sci-tech news updates in your email inbox, Among heart attack survivors, drug reduces chances of second heart attack or stroke, 'Turncoat' macrophages in the tumor 'micro-environment' underlie breast cancer progression, Immune responses during embryo development could increase risk of schizophrenia, Using haptic feedback to improve enhanced force control of piano keystrokes in elite players, Stanford team creates cellular atlas of the human lung, Australian study suggests true COVID-19 infection rate is 6.2 times higher than official tallies (Update). There was no significant difference between groups in the rate of overall side effects (78.5% receiving bempedoic acid and 78.7% receiving placebo) or serious side effects (14.5% bempedoic acid and 14.0% placebo). By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Privacy Policy Close menu. The Sun incorrectly states that the number of heart attacks and strokes were "slashed". They were split into 2 groups. Like statins, bempedoic acid works by blocking a key enzyme used by the body to make cholesterol, in this case an enzyme called ATP-citrate lyase. However, there are some important points to be aware of: Overall the results seem promising, but it remains to be seen whether bempedoic acid will become a licensed cholesterol-lowering treatment. Our genetic studies suggest that the benefit on prevention of heart disease and strokes in ongoing trials should be identical to that achieved through statins. On Friday, Dec. 13, 2019, U.S. regulators approved expanded use of the medication for preventing serious heart complications in high-risk patients already taking cholesterol-lowering pills. part may be reproduced without the written permission. Menu Get weekly and/or daily updates delivered to your inbox. The study was carried out by researchers from Imperial College London, the Louisville Metabolic and Atherosclerosis Research Center, the University of Milan, and the Baylor College of Medicine, Houston. The safety of the drug needs to be confirmed before it is made available. Most people in this trial were white, so we can't be sure how people of other ethnicities respond to this treatment. The trial has strengths in its large size and relatively long follow-up for safety. There was no difference in reported side effects between this drug and the placebo over the course of 1 year. The average age of the people involved was 66. Professor Kausik Ray, from Imperial College London's School of Public Health, who led the study, said: "We know that reducing your cholesterol levels is key to cutting the risk of heart attack and stroke, particularly if you already have established heart disease. The dropout rate because of side effects was slightly higher in the bempedoic acid group (11%) compared with the placebo group (7%). Doctors recruited 2,230 people with cardiovascular disease, hereditary high cholesterol or both, who had high LDL cholesterol (at least 70mg per decilitre) despite taking the maximum-tolerated dose of statin therapy for at least 1 year. Your opinions are important to us. The new drug, Repatha (evolocumab), is approved for patients with hereditary forms of high cholesterol and those with cardiovascular disease This study raises the prospect of a possible new treatment to reduce LDL cholesterol for people who have not responded well to statins alone. However, the number of people experiencing side effects that led to them stopping the drug was slightly higher in the bempedoic acid group (10.9% compared with 7.1% in the placebo group). You can unsubscribe at any time and we'll never share your details to third parties. and Terms of Use. 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