Cholesterol is an important substance in the body. It helps build cells and make hormones.
But too much cholesterol can be harmful.
High cholesterol is linked to serious health problems like heart disease and strokes, which are two of the top causes of death around the world.
The body uses hormones to manage fats and proteins in the blood. Doctors often prescribe medications called statins to help control cholesterol. Statins slow down the liver’s production of cholesterol, especially LDL cholesterol. LDL is known as “bad cholesterol” because it can clog the arteries and lead to heart problems.
Statins work well for many people, but not for everyone. Some people can’t take statins because of side effects like muscle or joint pain. Others find that statins don’t lower their cholesterol enough. This creates a gap in treatment for people who still need help controlling their cholesterol.
A new drug called bempedoic acid is showing promise for these patients. It works differently from statins but has the same goal—lowering LDL cholesterol. It can be especially helpful for people who can’t take statins or need more help lowering their cholesterol levels.
Recent research presented at the ENDO 2023 medical conference showed good results for bempedoic acid. Scientists ran a large study called the CLEAR Outcomes Trial. It focused on people who couldn’t tolerate statins.
The results were encouraging. People who took bempedoic acid had their LDL cholesterol go down by 21%. More importantly, their risk of serious heart problems, like heart attacks and strokes, dropped by 13%.
Further analysis showed that bempedoic acid can protect the heart as well as statins do. This is big news because it gives people another option if they can’t take statins. It shows that bempedoic acid is not just another cholesterol-lowering drug—it can also help prevent heart disease.
Dr. A. Michael Lincoff, one of the researchers, said that this is an important step forward. Heart disease is still a major health issue across the globe. New treatments like bempedoic acid can help more people stay healthy and avoid serious problems.
The success of this drug also shows why medical research is so important. As we learn more and develop new treatments, we can improve the lives of millions of people.
For those who can’t take statins or need extra help lowering their cholesterol, bempedoic acid may offer a new and effective path to better heart health.
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