A new experimental drug can reduce blood cholesterol levels by up to 60%. Photo: File
Texas: Cholesterol is a major cause of high blood pressure and heart disease, particularly narrowing of the arteries, and now there is hope that an oral pill may be the cure. The new pill can lower cholesterol levels in patients by up to 60 percent, at least in phase two clinical trials (Phase II clinical trials).
The pill, experimentally named ‘MK0616’, blocks a specific type of protein called PCSK9. Its deficiency makes it easier for the liver to break down LDL cholesterol and thus lower cholesterol. But until now, only injections or complex gene therapy have been successful in controlling this gene.
The research was conducted by Christy Mitchell of Baylor College of Medicine and colleagues. The result of which has been published in a research journal.
The pill was administered to 380 people who either had high cholesterol or heart disease or were close to these conditions. All individuals were randomly divided into five groups. One was given a dummy drug (placebo) while the other groups were given 6 mg, 12 mg, 18 mg and 30 mg doses of MK0616.
This was continued daily for 8 consecutive weeks and the amount of LDL cholesterol in the blood was measured before and after. But they were monitored for another 8 weeks to look for any possible side effects of the drug.
The real drug fared better than the fake drug. Cholesterol was reduced by 60% for those who ate 30 mg, 59% for those who ate 18 mg, 55% for 12 mg and 41% for 6 mg, a remarkable achievement. Interestingly, other negative chemicals in the body also decreased, including APOB protein and non-HDL cholesterol. Above all, there was no adverse effect on any of the patients.
However, after another clinical trial, this pill may become common for humans, but a new drug in the protection of the heart and blood is now very close to our reach.
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