New Drug Combination Can Help Lower Cholesterol

New findings from the Heart Research Institute (HRI) have identified a way to increase Lipoprotein Cholesterol Receptor (LDLR) levels, significantly enhancing the ability of people to lower their bad cholesterol and reduce the incidence of heart disease.

The study, published in the Journal, Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, found the combined application of Fenofibrate and existing Statin treatments such as Lipiton, Zocor or Crestor, had a cumulative positive impact on LDLR levels.

Building on 2008 findings into the affects of PCSK9, a protein that acts to reduce the amount of desirable LDLR in the system, HRI scientist Dr Gilles Lambert found a way to inhibit PCSK9 action and lower cholesterol levels.

“The discovery of the affects of PCSK9 gave us a clue as to how we can improve cholesterol treatments and a number of pharmaceutical companies are currently working on developing a drug that inhibits the action of PCSK9,” Dr Lambert said.

“In applying Fenofibrate, we were able to effectively inhibit the action of PCSK9 by around 13%, increasing the LDLR levels significantly.”

Dr Lambert said patients with high cholesterol were currently treated with Statins, commonly known drugs such as Lipiton, Zocor or Crestor, but statins also activated PCSK9 which led to a plateau in treatment.

“Statins are an important tool in controlling the levels of LDLR in the system and can reduce the level of LDL or bad cholesterol by around 30%.’

‘Unfortunately while statin drugs help to lower cholesterol levels, they also increase the production of PCSK9, limiting their benefit.”

“Using Fenofibrate as a PCSK9 inhibitor alone reduced bad cholesterol levels by around 13%.  Coupled with the statin drugs, we saw a cumulative improvement in LDL levels of almost 45%,” Dr Lambert said.

Excessive cholesterol levels cause fatty deposits or plaques that contribute to the narrowing of arteries, eventually blocking them completely resulting in a heart attack or stroke.

“Cholesterol levels are an inherited and environmental condition that affects around half of all Australians, so this finding has the potential to make a significant difference to our community.

“I expect that over the next 10 years we will see a combined cholesterol treatment that includes both a statin and PCSK9 inhibitor, giving patients a vastly improved prognosis.”

Dr Lambert’s research is a collaboration between the Heart Research Institute and the University of Western Australia.