An innovative daily pill could offer an easier and more effective method for lowering cholesterol levels, thereby reducing the risks of heart attacks and strokes. The experimental drug, known as Obicetrapib, was evaluated in a Phase 3 clinical trial conducted at Monash University in Australia.
This trial involved over 2,500 participants, with an average age of 65. All subjects had either been diagnosed with heart disease or had genetically high cholesterol, as stated in a university press release.
All participants were on the ‘maximum tolerated doses’ of existing cholesterol-lowering therapies. The study divided them into two groups: one received Obicetrapib while the other was given a placebo, all while continuing with their current cholesterol medications.
After 12 weeks, those taking Obicetrapib exhibited a significant decrease in LDL cholesterol levels, with a reduction of 32.6%, and a 33.5% drop in lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], according to the release.
These results were shared last month at the European Atherosclerosis Society Congress in the U.K. and subsequently published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
Professor Stephen Nicholls, the lead researcher and director of the Victorian Heart Institute at Monash University, commented, “We know that many people at high risk of heart attack or stroke don’t get their cholesterol levels low enough, even on the best available treatments.” He emphasized the significance of Obicetrapib’s findings, stating, “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 is much harder to treat and has been linked to increased heart disease risk.”
LDL, often referred to as ‘bad cholesterol,’ can accumulate in blood vessels, raising the risk of heart attacks and strokes, as noted by the researchers. Meanwhile, Lp(a) is a hereditary protein that significantly heightens the chance of heart attacks when found in elevated amounts in the bloodstream, and cannot be easily modified through lifestyle changes or other medications.
The researchers reported that participants tolerated Obicetrapib well. “This could be a valuable tool in the fight against heart disease,” Nicholls remarked. “It’s convenient, it’s effective, and it may help close the gap for patients who’ve run out of options.”
The study was funded by NewAmsterdam Pharma, the Netherlands-based developer of Obicetrapib, but it did have limitations. The researchers pointed out that the participants were not selected based on elevated Lp(a) levels, which leaves questions about the drug’s effects on those individuals. Furthermore, while they assessed changes in LDL levels, actual outcomes related to heart attacks or strokes were not measured.
Further research is required to monitor patients over extended periods and to include a more diverse group of participants, the researchers acknowledged. Fox News Digital has reached out to them for additional insights.