Introduction to Deadly Cholesterol
An estimated 64 million Americans have elevated levels of lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), a type of cholesterol that can increase the risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.
Having high Lp(a) doesn’t show up on routine tests because lifestyle factors like diet and exercise don’t seem to affect it and there have been no drugs to treat it — until now.
A new drug may significantly reduce levels of a type of undetected cholesterol that can increase the risk of heart disease. Getty Images
What is Lepodisiran?
Lepodisiran — an experimental drug made by the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly — has been found to slash this type of cholesterol by nearly 94% after a single dose.
Participants who received a second jab at the six-month mark showed a nearly 95% reduction in Lp(a) levels after one year.
The findings were presented Sunday at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology in Chicago and published in the The New England Journal of Medicine.
The Impact of Lp(a) on Cardiovascular Health
“This is a major source of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality,” Dr. Steven Nissen, lead author and chief academic officer of the Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute at the Cleveland Clinic, said.
“We have never been able to treat lipoprotein(a) until now.”
Lp(a) is a liver-produced particle similar to LDL — “bad cholesterol” — that contributes to plaque buildup in arteries, significantly increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
“This is a major source of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality,” the lead author of the study said. Getty Images
Managing Lp(a) Levels
Unlike other cholesterol types, Lp(a) levels are primarily dictated by your genes, rendering lifestyle changes ineffective in managing its concentration.
“Nearly a quarter of the world’s population has elevated levels of Lp(a), putting them at a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes,” Nissen said.
“Unfortunately, there are no approved cholesterol-lowering therapies specifically for this genetic risk factor, and lifestyle changes like diet and exercise do not provide meaningful reductions,” he added.
The Potential of Lepodisiran
“These significant and sustained Lp(a) reductions are encouraging and suggest that [small interfering RNA] approaches like lepodisiran could potentially offer durable benefits with long-term dosing.”
While the findings are encouraging, experts caution that further research is necessary to confirm the drug’s safety and efficacy for the general population.
Future Directions
“Reducing the inherited cardiovascular risk for patients with high Lp(a) has long been a critically unmet need. These results offer hope for a long-term, durable treatment option,” Ruth Gimeno, group vice president, diabetes, obesity and cardiometabolic research at Lilly, said.
“These data underscore Lilly’s commitment to advancing genetic medicine to address one of the world’s most pressing health care challenges. We will continue to evaluate the potential benefits of lepodisiran in the ongoing Phase 3 cardiovascular outcomes trial,” she added.
Have a heart.
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Conclusion
The discovery of lepodisiran and its potential to significantly reduce Lp(a) levels offers new hope for individuals at risk of cardiovascular events. Further research is necessary to confirm the drug’s safety and efficacy, but the initial findings are promising.
FAQs
Q: What is Lp(a) and how does it affect cardiovascular health?
A: Lp(a) is a type of cholesterol that can increase the risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular problems by contributing to plaque buildup in arteries.
Q: How does lepodisiran work to reduce Lp(a) levels?
A: Lepodisiran is an experimental drug that uses small interfering RNA to reduce Lp(a) levels.
Q: Is lepodisiran available for public use?
A: No, lepodisiran is still in the experimental phase and requires further research to confirm its safety and efficacy before it can be made available to the public.
