Another RNA-based drug, zodasiran, helps lower cholesterol in people with naturally high levels
Randomised controlled trial: Subjects are randomly assigned to a test group, which receives the treatment, or a control group, which commonly receives a placebo. In 'blind' trials, participants do not know which group they are in; in ‘double blind’ trials, the experimenters do not know either. Blinding trials helps removes bias.
People: This is a study based on research using people.
The drug zodasiran can help lower cholesterol and other blood fat levels in people with genetically high levels in their blood, according to Australian and international research. The drug is an RNA interference drug which uses small pieces of RNA that bind to RNA that is naturally in the body and code for a specific protein, by binding to that RNA the drug stops it from being able to make the protein, in this case, a protein called Angiopoietin-like 3. The researchers found that quarterly injections of the drug were able to further lower cholesterol levels in people already taking cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins). The researchers say the overall safety and efficacy profile of zodasiran supports its use in further studies. A second study on a similar drug which acts on a different protein is also being published by the same journal with a different embargo time.
Journal/conference: New England Journal of Medicine
Research: Paper
Organisation/s: Monash University, The University of Western Australia, Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital, USA
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