New Drug Brings Hope To Heart Patients

Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) researchers have found a new drug, anacetrapid, that raised good cholesterol (HDL) by 138% and also cut bad cholesterol significantly, according to Dr. Christopher Cannon, cardiologist and senior investigator.

In a study of 1,623 participants over an 18-month period, it was determined that "up until this point there have been very few drugs available to treat low levels of good cholesterol, and this new drug is 4 to 10 times more effective in raising good cholesterol compared to current therapies".

Additionally, the drug appears to be well-tolerated by patients and is not associated with the dangerous blood pressure changes in other similar-type medications.

Finally, those in the study who took the new drug rather than the placebo were significantly less likely to need angioplasty or bypass surgery.

This drug has a long way to go but it is a welcome sign for patients with cardiovascular disease.