One dose of the experimental drug lepodisiran reduces levels of lipoprotein(a), a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, by more than 94%. The study was published on: Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
Lipoprotein(a), also abbreviated as “LP(a)”, is produced in the liver. It works similarly to low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which is called “bad” cholesterol because its excess is associated with a higher risk of severe atherosclerosis and stroke. Like LDL, lipoprotein(a) contributes to the buildup of plaque in the arteries, significantly increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Unlike normal cholesterol, Lp(a) levels are 80-90% genetically determined and cannot be affected by lifestyle changes or medications.
Forty-eight patients with an average age of 47 from the United States and Singapore participated in the study. Researchers examined six different dosages of lepodisiran, an injectable drug that lowers lipoprotein(a) levels. Its effects were compared to placebo, and participants were followed for 48 weeks after treatment.
Plasma Lp(a) levels decreased by 49% compared to baseline at the 4 mg lepodisiran dose and by 96% at the 608 mg dose. In those receiving placebo, Lp(a) concentrations decreased by an average of 5% in those receiving placebo. The only side effect of the drug found in the study was a local reaction at the injection site.
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