Our body needs cholesterol in moderation, as it help in the formation of Vitamin D, hormones and other molecules that help in food digestion. But when it gets out of hand, it can prove to be life threatening. A protein called PCSK9 is responsible for regulating the levels of cholesterol in our body, too much and our arteries would be clogged up and our blood pressures would run high.

Until now the precautionary measures included the use of a certain class of drugs called statins, other than the usual diet check and exercise. Statins are effective, but it is their side effects which make it a not so safe choice for the patients, which include- which includes muscle pain, heightened diabetes risk and even cognitive loss. Which brings us to new, better drugs that pharmaceuticals managed to create, but cost way more than would be affordable for most. With an annual price tag of US$10,000 a year, a new solution was needed.

[adinserter block=”7″]

Here we come in with a vaccine by Researchers at the University of New Mexico (UNM) and the National Institute of Health that targets the protein PCSK9. The vaccine contains antigenic PCSK9 peptide in a virus-like particle, making it even more effective and cheaper than the alternatives available. In testing the vaccine on mice and monkeys, the scientists found it led to significant reduction in total cholesterol, free cholesterol, phospholipids, and triglycerides. Further tests on monkeys and a patent is pending.

“We believe that this vaccine could lead to a widely applicable approach for controlling hypercholesteremia and cardiovascular disease,” says Bryce Chackerian, professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology at UNM.

Author: Technology Blog