New Drug Slashes Lipoprotein(a) Levels
An experimental small interfering RNA therapeutic can drastically reduce blood levels of lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), a lipid particle linked to increased cardiovascular risk. Lp(a) levels are determined by genetics, remain consistent across the lifespan and generally are not affected by lifestyle factors. Researchers from Cleveland Clinic and other medical centers studied the drug zerlasiran in a phase 2 randomized clinical trial involving 178 people (mean age about 64) with cardiovascular disease and elevated Lp(a) levels. After 36 weeks of treatment, zerlasiran lowered Lp(a) by more than 80%, compared with placebo. The drug was well tolerated, with the most common treatment-related side effects being mild injection site reactions, the investigators reported (Journal of the American Medical Association, online Nov. 18, 2024).
