Eli Lilly’s one-shot gene therapy shows promise in cutting ‘bad’ cholesterol – Firstpost

US drugmaker Eli Lilly on Monday said a high dose of its experimental gene-editing therapy cut “bad” cholesterol levels by up to 62 per cent in an early-stage clinical trial, boosting hopes for a one-time treatment for heart disease prevention.

The therapy, called VERVE-102, was acquired through Lilly’s $1 billion takeover of Verve Therapeutics last year. The treatment is designed to permanently switch off a gene linked to LDL cholesterol, often referred to as “bad” cholesterol because of its role in raising the risk of heart disease.

Lilly said the trial results suggest the therapy could become a long-term alternative for patients who struggle to consistently take existing cholesterol-lowering medicines such as statins or injectable therapies.

The results are still preliminary, and larger trials will be needed to establish the therapy’s long-term safety and effectiveness before it can seek regulatory approval.