A new daily pill may offer a simpler and more convenient way to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. The medication, called Obicetrapib, was tested in a Phase 3 clinical trial led by Monash University in Australia.
The trial included more than 2,500 participants, with an average age of 65. All participants had either diagnosed heart disease or genetically high cholesterol. They were already receiving the highest doses of standard cholesterol-lowering treatments that they could tolerate.
Significant Cholesterol Reductions
Participants were randomly assigned to take Obicetrapib or a placebo, while continuing their usual medications. After 12 weeks:
- LDL cholesterol (known as “bad” cholesterol) dropped by 32.6% in the Obicetrapib group.
- Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a) — a harder-to-treat protein linked to heart disease — fell by 33.5%.
The findings were shared at the European Atherosclerosis Society Congress in the U.K. and published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
Expert Insights
“Many people at high risk of heart attack or stroke don’t get their cholesterol low enough, even on the best available treatments,” said Professor Stephen Nicholls, director of Monash University’s Victorian Heart Institute.
“Obicetrapib offers a promising new option. Not only did it lower LDL cholesterol by over 30%, but we also saw a reduction in Lp(a), which has been harder to treat,” he added.
Understanding LDL and Lp(a)
- LDL cholesterol can build up in blood vessels, increasing heart attack and stroke risk.
- Lp(a) is an inherited protein that raises heart disease risk. Unlike LDL, Lp(a) levels can’t be lowered through diet, exercise, or current medicines.
Safety and Future Research
Obicetrapib was well-tolerated by trial participants. “It’s convenient, it’s effective, and it may help patients who’ve run out of options,” Nicholls said.
The study, funded by NewAmsterdam Pharma (the Dutch developer of Obicetrapib), had some limitations:
- It did not focus on people with high Lp(a) levels.
- It measured cholesterol changes but not actual heart attack or stroke events.
Researchers said longer studies with more diverse participants are needed to confirm the drug’s long-term benefits.
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