New treatments for common cardiovascular risk factor near the market, with billions at stake

Unlike cholesterol, there is no approved therapy to lower levels of Lp(a)

An illustration of a lipoprotein(a) particle. Lp(a), as it’s abbreviated, is a blob of lipids and proteins that can drive the formation of plaques and make blood clots more likely.JUAN GAERTNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Andrew covers the biopharma industry, scientific research, and public health across the continent. You can reach Andrew confidentially on Signal at drewqjoseph.71.

Many people who face a heightened likelihood of heart disease and heart attacks can take protective measures, whether by adjusting their lifestyle or starting medication. But 1 in 5 people carry a risk factor that isn’t so easily addressed.

This gap in medicine is also a potentially massive market for drugmakers, which are advancing experimental treatments for the risk factor through late-stage trials, including front-runner Novartis.