Daily Pills for the Prevention of Heart Disease and Strokes

SadaNews - A U.S. clinical study has shown promising results for a new experimental oral medication that successfully reduced levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, known as "bad" cholesterol, by up to 60 percent.

Researchers at the University of Southwestern Texas explained that the drug raises hopes for providing an effective daily treatment option to reduce the risk of heart disease and strokes. The results were published on Thursday in the "New England Journal of Medicine."

"Bad" cholesterol is a type of fat found in the blood, and elevated levels lead to the accumulation of fatty deposits on the walls of arteries. Over time, these deposits cause arteries to narrow and lose their elasticity, a condition known as atherosclerosis, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

The study included 2,909 patients suffering from cardiovascular atherosclerosis or considered at high risk for it. Participants were randomly divided, with two-thirds receiving the new drug known as "Enlicitide" once daily, while the remaining third received a placebo, with the majority continuing to take traditional statin medications to lower cholesterol.

Despite participants using the maximum possible doses of fat-reducing medications, their average level of bad cholesterol was 96 mg/dL, which is above the medically recommended levels.

After 24 weeks of treatment, patients taking "Enlicitide" recorded an approximate 60 percent reduction in levels of "bad" cholesterol compared to the group receiving the placebo, with many of them achieving recommended treatment targets.

The drug's effect was not limited to reducing bad cholesterol; it also contributed to lowering other lipid indicators associated with the risk of heart disease, including non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, which is one of the harder risk factors to treat with traditional medications.

A one-year follow-up indicated that the drug's effect remained stable, with no serious side effects reported compared to the placebo, suggesting a good level of safety and tolerance among patients.

"Enlicitide" works by inhibiting the protein "PCSK9," which is responsible for reducing the number of cholesterol receptors in the liver, a mechanism similar to currently used injectable drugs. However, the new medication is distinguished by being an oral pill taken daily, which may help increase patient adherence to treatment and broaden its use.

Dr. Anne Marie Navar, the lead researcher of the study at the University of Southwestern Texas, stated that "less than half of patients with cardiovascular atherosclerosis currently succeed in reaching target levels of bad cholesterol."

She added that "the existence of such an effective oral treatment could lead to a radical shift in our ability to prevent heart attacks and strokes on a large scale."

The researchers hope that if the drug receives the necessary regulatory approvals, it will help bridge a therapeutic gap experienced by many heart patients who do not reach target cholesterol levels with current treatments.