Twice-yearly cholesterol-lowering jab could replace statins for 300,000 people in UK

It has been announced that around 300,000 sufferers of high cholesterol will receive twice-yearly cholesterol-lowering injections as an alternative to statins.

The ‘game-changing’ inclisiran treatment is to be rolled out on the NHS following approval by the UK’s medical watchdog.

The drug reduces levels of ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol by around 50 per cent, making it as effective as high-dose statins, and is delivered by injection once every six months, saving the need to take daily statin medication.

The jab has initially been approved only for patients with high cholesterol who already have heart disease or have had a stroke or heart attack, around 300,000 in total.

Health secretary Sajid Javid said the “life-saving” treatment was a “huge step forward in tacking the scourge of heart disease”.

Research is currently ongoing on whether the drug could be used on a preventative basis to benefit millions who are at risk of heart problems.

Meindert Boysen, deputy chief executive of NICE, said “Inclisiran represents a potential game-changer in preventing thousands of people from dying prematurely from heart attacks and strokes.”

Lead researcher Professor Kausik Ray, from Imperial College London, said “It’s great news for patients.  It will reduce their medication burden and offer convenience.”

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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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