Private MD News

Researchers find benefits to new cholesterol drug

Category: Heart Health and Cholesterol

Those who have received unhealthy cholesterol tests likely know that their levels of LDL, or bad cholesterol, are just as important as their HDL, or good cholesterol levels. While there are numerous medications available to lower LDL, developing a drug to raise HDL has proven more difficult.

Higher levels of HDL are considered important for heart health because these molecules have been shown to sweep the arteries of plaque buildups. When fat accumulates in the cardiovascular system it can cause blockages that increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. HDL prevents these buildups from forming.

While the benefits of HDL are well known, an effective method for raising levels of the molecule has been elusive. However, team of researchers from the Cleveland Clinic recently reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association that the experimental drug evacetrapib may be effective.

Their study showed that when combined with traditional statin medications, this drug helps lower LDL levels while boosting HDL. The researchers said their findings could mark a major advance in treating patients' cholesterol problems.