- About 20–25% of people around the world have a genetic version of ‘bad’ cholesterol called lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a) for short.
- There is currently no cure or approved specific treatment for lowering Lp(a) levels.
- Researchers in Australia have now found a new potential oral medication developed to target Lp(a) can lower levels by up to 65%.
Between
Because Lp(a) is genetic, lifestyle changes like diet and exercise that may benefit other types of cholesterol do not help. There is currently no cure or approved specific treatment for lowering Lp(a) levels.
Now, researchers from Monash University’s Victorian Heart Institute and Victorian Heart Hospital, in Australia, have found that an experimental oral medication developed to target Lp(a) was able to lower its levels by more than half during a first-in-human phase 1 clinical trial.
This study was recently published in the journal
Lipoproteins are a type of protein that transports cholesterol through the blood. There are two main types of lipoproteins:
- high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, considered “good”
- low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, considered “bad.”
Although the body needs some cholesterol for certain functions, too much LDL cholesterol can lead to atherosclerosis — a condition where cholesterol builds up to form plaques on the inside walls of arteries, making it hard for blood to pump through.
Lp(a) is a form of LDL cholesterol that is “stickier” than other types, making it easier for the build-up to occur and arteries to become blocked.
The amount of Lp(a) in a person’s system is determined by their genetic history and ethnicity. For example,
Having a high level of Lp(a) can
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