All articles tagged with #pcsk9
In a small Phase I study, Verve Therapeutics’ VERVE-102, a one-time mRNA-based gene-editing therapy targeting PCSK9, reduced LDL by up to 62% in the highest-dose group among 35 participants, with no serious safety events aside from a transient mild rise in a liver enzyme; results suggest durable LDL-C lowering, but larger and longer trials are needed for confirmation, and the FDA has granted Fast Track designation.
A DNA-based treatment using polypurine hairpins to silence PCSK9 lowers LDL cholesterol and boosts LDL receptors. In liver cells HpE9/HpE12 reduced PCSK9 RNA by up to 74% and protein by up to 87%; in transgenic mice a single injection cut PCSK9 by ~50% and cholesterol by ~47% within days, potentially offering a statin-free alternative with fewer side effects.
A phase 3 trial of the daily oral PCSK9 inhibitor enlicitide showed LDL cholesterol falls by about 60% in 2,909 patients with atherosclerosis or high cardiovascular risk, many already on statins. The pill also reduced non-HDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, and lipoprotein(a), with effects lasting one year. If FDA approves, enlicitide could offer an oral alternative to injectable PCSK9 therapies and improve adherence, though a separate study is needed to confirm whether these LDL reductions translate into fewer heart attacks and strokes. The trial was Merck-funded and ongoing work aims to determine cardiovascular event outcomes.
Merck has developed a new pill called enlicitide that significantly reduces LDL cholesterol levels by blocking the PCSK9 protein, showing promising results in clinical trials with a 20% reduction in heart attack and stroke rates among high-risk patients, and offering a potentially more affordable alternative to existing injectable treatments.
Researchers have developed a new therapy using polypurine hairpins to inhibit PCSK9, significantly reducing LDL cholesterol levels by nearly 50% without the side effects associated with statins, offering a promising alternative for managing hypercholesterolemia and preventing atherosclerosis.
A new genetic therapy using polypurine hairpins to inhibit PCSK9 significantly reduces cholesterol levels by nearly 50%, offering a promising alternative to traditional statins and potentially reducing cardiovascular disease risk.
A patent case before the US Supreme Court over rights to therapeutic antibodies that are used to treat high cholesterol could have far-reaching impacts on drug prices and technology. The decision could affect how specific patents of any ilk must be when they describe an invention, and how broad they can be. A win by Amgen could hinder the development of new medicines by restricting competition and discouraging the development of multiple therapeutic antibodies that bind to the same target.