A new medication has been developed that can halve “bad cholesterol” with just two injections per year. LDL cholesterol, also known as “bad cholesterol,” is one of the most common causes of stroke and heart attack. For people with inherited metabolic disorders and patients with atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), intensive cholesterol reduction is essential for maintaining good health. Until now, those affected by high LDL levels had to take medication daily. However, the new cholesterol-lowering medication, Inclisiran, achieves the same effect with just two injections per year.
On January 29, 2021, a team of scientists from the Medical University of Vienna and doctors from the Clinical Department of Cardiology at AKH Vienna administered Inclisiran for the first time outside of a clinical trial. The medication will now be offered as a supplement or alternative to standard therapy in Vienna. The new drug is based on the RNA interference mechanism, which was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2006. It suppresses the production of the PCSK9 protein in liver cells, which increases LDL cholesterol in the blood. Clinical studies have shown that the new drug, in combination with standard therapy, can reduce LDL cholesterol by more than 80 percent.
The medication has already been shown to be well-tolerated in clinical trials, and the developers expect high treatment adherence and acceptance due to the low number of injections required. This breakthrough in cholesterol-lowering medication could have a significant impact on the health of those with high LDL levels, reducing their risk of stroke and heart attack.
