A type of cholesterol that often evades routine tests and defies diet, exercise, and existing treatments may finally have a solution. In a groundbreaking trial, a single dose of the experimental drug lepodisiran slashed levels of lipoprotein(a), a deadly, hard-to-treat form of cholesterol linked to heart disease, for up to a year.
An estimated 64 million U.S. adults have dangerously high levels of lipoprotein(a), a form of cholesterol that can double or even triple the risk of heart attacks. Beyond fueling heart disease, elevated Lp(a) is also linked to strokes and aortic valve stenosis, a serious condition that narrows the heart valve and can lead to heart failure. Unlike other forms of cholesterol, Lp(a) is largely influenced by genetics and remains difficult to manage with lifestyle changes or existing medications.
