A one-off treatment could lead to a cure for high cholesterol, according to medical researchers in London.
In an early-stage clinical trial, a single dose of a new experimental therapy cut levels of LDL ‘bad’ cholesterol by up to 62 per cent and kept them low for up to a year, raising hopes that patients could one day avoid taking daily medication for the rest of their lives.
The treatment, called VERVE-102, is delivered through an IV drip and works by permanently altering a gene involved in cholesterol regulation. Researchers reported no serious safety concerns in the trial, the results of which were published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
Lowering LDL cholesterol reduces the build-up of fatty plaques in the arteries, helping to cut the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
While statins can achieve similar reductions to gene therapy, they generally need to be taken every day. If larger studies confirm that VERVE-102 is safe and effective, a single treatment could provide long-lasting protection against cardiovascular disease.
