It gobbles up PCSK9
A new drug has been created that can reduce cholesterol levels to that of a baby, massively reducing risks of heart attacks and strokes, according to a recent study.
The drug has been given the name the ‘Pac Man’ as it ‘gobbles up’ the protein in the blood that stops the liver from absorbing this so called bad cholesterol.
Alirocumab is thought to be one of the most significant drug developments to reduce bad cholesterol since the introduction of statins, said Professor Kausik Ray, who is fronting the drug's trial in Britain.
In over a third of people who are taking cholesterol lowering stations, this particular drug got rid of dangerous blood fats called lipoproteins (LDL) cholesterol.
As a consequence their risk of heart attacks and strokes were halved.
"Alirocumab, when used alongside a statin, will dramatically lower cholesterol," said Ray.
"Around 40 per cent of people who took it saw their levels reduce to that of a new-born.
"It is likely to reduce your risk of heart disease as it will lower LDL cholesterol; however, these are still adult bodies. The risk isn't going to be abolished. People are not going to be immortal."
He was the first to describe it as functioning "a bit like a Pac-Man," a reference to the '80s arcade game where the Pac-Man character travels round a maze eating pellets, or in this case bad proteins.
"It gobbles up PCSK9," he said.
This protein stops the liver from absorbing the LDL cholesterol. 2,338 patients took part in the study who has already suffered from a heart attack or stroke, 778 were given a placebo and 1,550 were given a statin.
The participants were asked to take the drug bimonthly and more than a third of the 1,550 saw their levels of LDL cholesterol fall to less than 0.7 milimoles per liter of blood within just 12 months.
This is the same level as a baby, Ray said.
"It is the biggest reduction we've had since statins were introduced," he added, explaining that trials were ongoing. It follows a poll that found two thirds of GPs are refusing to comply with controversial National Health Service advice to prescribe statins to millions more adults.
Family doctors insisted they would not allow the "mass medicalization" of the public.
Source: Leader Post
Tagged in Cholesterol