A method of editing genes in people with an inherited predisposition to high cholesterol production has been found to be safe and effective. Test results presented at the annual meeting American Heart Association (AHA).
Statins are drugs that effectively lower cholesterol in most people, but they may not help people with high cholesterol due to genetic factors. Most of these patients have heart attacks in their 30s and 40s.
In the new study, scientists tested a gene editing method developed by Verve Therapeutics that targets a point mutation in the PCSK9 gene. 10 patients were included in the preliminary trial.
Low doses of the gene therapy drug had no noticeable effect on cholesterol levels, but three were prescribed higher doses. LDL cholesterol levels dropped by more than half in these patients. The study states that, in theory, the effect of one dose of the drug should last a lifetime.
Previous scientists I learnedThat traditional Chinese medicine can protect the heart from recurrent heart attacks.