This cholesterol is a risk factor for heart disease. Emerging drugs from Eli Lilly and Amgen can treat it.
About a quarter of people risk heart attacks and strokes because they inherit a cholesterol that statins cannot treat.
However, Eli Lilly reported late last month Only one lens In one experimental drug, most of this type of adverse cholesterol, called lipoprotein (A), was eliminated for six months.
Lilly is now recruiting patients for a Phase 3 trial of its drug Lepodisiran. Amgen has recruited its Phase 3 study of Olpasiran, a competitive treatment (if not long-term performance) of lipoprotein (A). Both are ahead of both, and his Novartis monthly injection phase 3 trial of Pelacarsen can report the results of this year.
These pharmaceutical manufacturers target Trouble Cholesterol Variants This is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases that are different from the type of cholesterol treated by statins. Since there are high levels of lipoprotein (a) in between one and two billion people around the world, successful drugs should have a huge market.
The lipoprotein (A) level in the blood is one of three key measures to measure a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease. The second is the molecule that causes inflammation, called the C-reactive protein. The third is the famous LDL cholesterol. Long-term research in the United States and Europe shows Blood screening test Because these factors can predict the risk of heart attacks in the coming decades.
Diet, exercise, and statins can lower LDL cholesterol. But high levels of lipoprotein (a) are inherited. Therefore, lifestyle will not affect it. Neither can be used. However, those with cholesterol disorders increase the risk of heart attacks by two to three times.
Every large pharmaceutical company licenses its lipoprotein (a) drugs from smaller experts. Novartis is working with Ionis Pharmaceuticals. Amgen works with Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals. Eli Lilly partnered with Dicerna Pharmaceuticals and Novo Nordisk purchased for $3.3 billion in 2021. London-based Biotech Silence Therapeutics is developing its lipoprotein (a) drug solo.
All of these drugs work by blocking RNA messages that tell hepatocytes to make lipoprotein (A). Novartis drugs bind to RNA and tie it up, while other companies use specially made molecules called “small interfering RNA” or siRNA to lower RNA.
The siRNA molecules stay in the cells for a long time, making the lens very long. In the Phase 2 Trial Report by Lily March 30Lipoprotein (A) levels decreased by 94% for six months. Anjin Phase 2 study The drug was administered every three months and inhibited 97% of the adverse cholesterol. In the Novartis study, the levels dropped by about 80%.
All these reductions may be enough to fight heart disease. So far, side effects have not been problematic for any medication.
Now, these companies must demonstrate that lowering rogue cholesterol reduces heart attacks and strokes. The third phase of research proves that this will take more time. With an earlier start, Novartis will be the first of these big pharma companies to have answers. Amgen and Lilly will take another few more years.
But if these drugs prove that lipoprotein (a) born people will eventually be able to do something about it.
