Coming soon: Lower cholesterol from a twice-a-year shot?

Instead of popping a pill every day, people might soon control "bad" LDL cholesterol by getting an injection at their doctor's office two or three times a year.
Researchers testing a new injectable drug called Inclisiran found it cut LDL cholesterol by half or more. According to early clinical trial data, the effect could last for four to six months. 
Inclisiran produced "significant and durable reductions in LDL cholesterol, and thus could potentially impact cardiovascular events," said study presenter Dr. Kausik Ray, a professor of public health at Imperial College London in England. Such long-lasting effects could provide a major advance in preventing heart disease, heart attack and stroke, by helping reduce hardening of the arteries, the researchers said.
The trial results were presented Tuesday at the American Heart Association annual meeting in New Orleans. Another phase of research is needed before Inclisiran can receive U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval. Statin pills like Lipitor (atorvastatin) and Crestor (rosuvastatin) are the current gold standard for treating high cholesterol, but have their limits, heart doctors say.
However, another clinical trial presented at Tuesday's meeting showed that combining statins with Inclisiran's class of cholesterol-lowering drugs -- PCSK9 inhibitors -- can help drive LDL cholesterol levels down to previously unseen levels.
When paired with a statin, a PCSK9 inhibitor called Repatha (evolocumab) reduced LDL cholesterol levels by nearly 60 percent more than statins alone, said lead researcher Dr. Steven Nissen. He's chair of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.
Ultrasound scans showed that bringing cholesterol levels that low prompted hardening of the arteries to reverse in four out of five patients, Nissen said.
    HealthDay

Coming soon: Lower cholesterol from a twice-a-year shot?

Instead of popping a pill every day, people might soon control bad LDL cholesterol by getting an injection at their doctors office two or three times a year. Researchers testing a new injectable drug called Inclisiran found it cut LDL cholesterol by half or more. According to early clinical trial data, the effect could last for four to six months. Inclisiran produced significant and durable reductions in LDL cholesterol, and thus could potentially impact cardiovascular events, said study presenter Dr. Kausik Ray, a professor of public health at Imperial College London in England. Such long-lasting effects could provide a major advance in preventing heart disease, heart attack and stroke, by helping reduce hardening of the arteries, the researchers said. The trial results were presented Tuesday at the American Heart Association annual meeting in New Orleans. Another phase of research is needed before Inclisiran can receive U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval. Statin pills like Lipitor (atorvastatin) and Crestor (rosuvastatin) are the current gold standard for treating high cholesterol, but have their limits, heart doctors say. However, another clinical trial presented at Tuesdays meeting showed that combining statins with Inclisirans class of cholesterol-lowering drugs -- PCSK9 inhibitors -- can help drive LDL cholesterol levels down to previously unseen levels. When paired with a statin, a PCSK9 inhibitor called Repatha (evolocumab) reduced LDL cholesterol levels by nearly 60 percent more than statins alone, said lead researcher Dr. Steven Nissen. Hes chair of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. Ultrasound scans showed that bringing cholesterol levels that low prompted hardening of the arteries to reverse in four out of five patients, Nissen said. HealthDay