Scientists have presented a new, safer alternative for statins.

According to The Daily Mail, the developers propose to reduce cholesterol levels by using bempedoic acid. Scientists of Imperial College London have shown that the acid can even be used on a daily basis in parallel with the statins.

It is known that 5% to 20% of people refuse to take statins due to muscle pain. There is an alternative - injections of PCSK9 inhibitors. But they are very expensive. Bempedoic acid should be much cheaper. In addition, the acid covers a wide range of people, even those who have already experienced a heart attack and can’t reduce their cholesterol levels with statins.

According to trial results, when bempedoic acid was co-administrated with statins, the cholesterol levels were reduced by 18% compared with the use of statins alone. This allows to reduce the dosage of statins and maintain the effectiveness of therapy. Bempedoic acid, like statins, inhibits ATP citrate lyase that is a key enzyme to cholesterol production. Today the manufacturer - Esperion company – tries to get a license from European regulators. If successful, the acid will be put on the market next year.

Source:  MEDdaily