Drug to cut cholestorl level tests better than statins

An experimental drug that works in a novel way to lower cholesterol proved even more effective than statins and had few undesirable side effects, newly released data shows.

The drug works by modifying the way cholesterol levels are naturally controlled. A protein produced in the liver helps limit the amount of LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, that liver cells can remove from the bloodstream. The new drug, called REGN727, is a monoclonal antibody, made in a laboratory, that blocks the action of that protein.

"About 5 to 10 percent of people can't tolerate statins at all, and more can't tolerate higher doses," said Dr. Evan Stein, director of the Metabolic and Atherosclerosis Research Center in Cincinnati and lead author of the trials. "It's still early in development, but for them this is potentially a most promising alternative."

The studies were published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

The unusual results have been greeted with cautious optimism. "The study shows that the drug has incredibly potent effect in lowering cholesterol," said Dr. Mario J. Garcia, chief of cardiology at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City, who was not involved in the research. "Even though this is very exciting, and perhaps a real breakthrough, at this point it's premature to conclude that this drug will increase survival or improve quality of life.

"Also, we don't know whether the drug will continue to be effective over time -- it's

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Drug to cut cholestorl level tests better than statins