Heart Attack Risk May Drop For Millions With Wonder Drug That Reduces Cholesterol By 94%
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A US pharma company has developed an experimental drug that reduces lipoprotein(a) cholesterol by 94% with a single injection, offering new hope for heart attack prevention.
A revolutionary breakthrough in cardiovascular medicine has emerged from the United States, offering new hope for millions at risk of heart attacks due to stubborn cholesterol buildup. US pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly has developed an experimental drug that reportedly slashes levels of a notoriously difficult form of cholesterol by an astonishing 94% – with a single injection.
The drug targets lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), a genetic variant of cholesterol that behaves similarly to the more familiar LDL, often dubbed 'bad cholesterol." However, Lp(a) is markedly more dangerous. It adheres rapidly to arterial walls, accelerating the onset of atherosclerosis – the hardening and narrowing of arteries – and significantly increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Unlike LDL, which can often be managed through diet, lifestyle, and existing medications, Lp(a) has long resisted conventional treatment.
In a phase 2 clinical trial conducted by Eli Lilly, 141 participants received a 400 mg dose of the investigational drug. Another 69 individuals were administered a placebo. The results, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, presented that within weeks, recipients of the drug showed a dramatic 94% reduction in Lp(a) levels, an effect that lasted up to six months with no reported side effects.
'This is a very promising development," said Dr Nitish Chandra, Principal Director at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute in Delhi. Until now, no therapy has effectively targeted Lp(a). Even blood-thinning medications can't remove this cholesterol from arteries and because Lp(a) is largely inherited, patients often face lifelong risk without any means of intervention, he said.
Currently, individuals with severe cholesterol blockage – more than 75% arterial narrowing – typically require a stent implantation to reduce the threat of a cardiac event. Conventional medications fail to dissolve cholesterol once it has significantly accumulated in the arteries, making prevention and early detection the primary strategies for at-risk patients. That may now change.
The Eli Lilly trial is only the beginning. While the reduction in Lp(a) is clear, whether it translates into fewer heart attacks or strokes remains to be proven. A larger, more comprehensive clinical trial is already underway, aiming to determine the drug's impact on long-term cardiovascular outcomes. Results from that trial are expected soon.
Meanwhile, Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis is also in the race, developing a competing drug that requires monthly injections. Both treatments could potentially reshape the landscape of cardiac care, particularly for individuals with genetically elevated cholesterol who have, until now, had limited options.
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