New oral drug lowers cholesterol by 70%

Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in
fats (lipids) in the blood.
While your body needs cholesterol to build healthy cells, too much cholesterol can lead to a buildup of plaque in the arteries, increasing the risk of
heart attack and stroke.

A team of researchers from University Hospital and Case Western Reserve University has discovered a small molecule drug that can effectively lower cholesterol
by 70 percent in animal models.

PCSK9 inhibitors are the second most common type of
drug used to control cholesterol levels after statins.
These drugs are very effective at reducing excess cholesterol in the blood, but unlike statins, which can be taken orally, PCSK9 inhibitors must be injected
.
This can be a barrier
to using them for some.

Researchers at University Hospital and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have developed a small molecule drug
that can be taken orally.
In animal models, the drug has been shown to significantly reduce PCSK9 levels and reduce cholesterol by 70%.

The findings, published in the journal Cell Reports, represent a new way to manage cholesterol that could also have implications
for cancer treatment.

"Lowering cholesterol is one of the most important therapies we can use to prolong life and protect people from heart disease, which remains the number one cause
of morbidity and mortality in the Western world.
" Jonathan S.
Stamler, MD, said
.

Statins currently only lower cholesterol
.
We think it's a new way to lower cholesterol, a new way
to combat PCSK9.
”