Now that cardiologists and other doctors are comfortable talking about PCSK9 inhibitors they can start preparing to add a new mouthful of a therapeutic target to their vocabulary: angiopoietin-like-3 (ANGPTL3). Two papers published in the New England Journal of Medicine by industry researchers provide a snapshot of promising but still early research on two new drugs that target…
Another HDL Therapy Crashes and Burns
March 19, 2017 by 3 Comments
–Failure of pre-beta HDL mimetic puts another nail in the HDL coffin Once again, an HDL-inspired therapy has failed when put to the test in a clinical trial. Although there are still ongoing trials with other HDL-related therapies, most experts now feel that it is time for the field to turn its attention elsewhere and…
Studies Spotlight Role Of Triglycerides, Put HDL In The Background
March 11, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Two new studies provide more evidence tilting the balance in favor of triglycerides rather than HDL playing a causative role in cardiovascular disease. But it is still too early to know whether the findings of any of the studies will point to useful new methods to prevent and treat disease. In the first study, published…
Large Genetic Studies Support Role For Triglycerides In Cardiovascular Disease
March 3, 2016 by 2 Comments
Two papers published in the New England Journal of Medicine offer new genetic evidence to support the increasingly accepted though still controversial view that triglycerides play an important causal role in cardiovascular disease. If fully validated the new findings could lead to new drugs to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease, though others caution that there…
New Evidence Fuels Concerns About The Safety Of Niacin
July 16, 2014 by Leave a Comment
The string of failures– for HDL therapies in general and for niacin in particular– continues unabated. The publication of the main results of the HPS2-THRIVE trial, along with new information from the AIM-HIGH trial, provide no evidence of a beneficial effect for niacin but do fuel concerns that it may cause serious adverse effects. ……
Large Genetic Studies May Help Unravel The Triglyceride Problem
June 19, 2014 by 1 Comment
The precise role of triglycerides in heart disease has been very difficult to determine. To help untangle the knotty problem two research groups studied large populations and identified rare variations in a gene (APOC3) that encodes for apolipoprotein C3, which is known to increase triglyceride levels. … The two studies have received a lot of…
FDA Approves New Omega-3 Supplement
May 6, 2014 by Leave a Comment
The FDA has approved a new omega-3 supplement for the treatment of adults with severe hypertriglyceridemia, defined as triglyceride levels 500 mg/dL or higher. The drug, which will be marketed under the brand name of Epanova, is manufactured by AstraZeneca, which acquired the drug when it purchased Omthera Pharmaceuticals in 2013. … Click here to read…
FDA Approves Vascepa, A New Fish Oil Pill From Amarin
July 26, 2012 by 1 Comment
The FDA has approved a new prescription formulation of fish oils for the treatment of very high levels of triglycerides. The news was first reported by The Street reporter Adam Feuerstein. The drug will be sold under the brand name Vascepa. According to the company, it will be indicated as an adjunct to diet to reduce triglyceride…
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