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Esperion Therapeutics' non-statin therapy "bempedoic acid" has shown modest results in reducing the risk of major cardiovascular events in statin-intolerant patients in the cholesterol lowering via bempedoic acid, an ACL-inhibiting regimen (CLEAR Outcomes) trial, revealed GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. As a result, there is substantial room for improvement in this space as a potential approval is expected in Australia in near-term based on these results, said GlobalData. According to GlobalData's Pharmaceutical Intelligence Center, the total number of diagnosed prevalent cases of dyslipidemia in Australia is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 1.2% from 5.2 million in 2022 to 5.4 million in 2025. Neha Myneni, Pharma Analyst at GlobalData, comments: "Bempedoic acid joins several statin alternatives that have shown the potential to reduce cardiac illnesses. However, with not much significant improvement in the outcomes, there exists a clear room for improvement for non-statin therapies in this space." Bempedoic acid is the sixth class of cholesterol-lowering drugs (other than cholesteryl-ester transfer protein isoform (CETPi) inhibitors), that has demonstrated the potential to reduce heart attacks and strokes. Other class of therapies with similar potential currently marketed in Australia include statins, bile acid resins, niacin, ezetimibe, and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors (alirocumab, evolocumab, and inclisiran).

Use of cholesterol lowering drugs may significantly cut cardiovascular risks, but its long term use can raise the risk of developing cataracts by 27 percent, researchers have found.

A daily medication for high blood pressure could be replaced by an injection twice a year, if Queen Mary University and Barts Health NHS Trust succeed in their trail to investigate if an injection-based drug - Zilebesiran - could inhibit the production of a protein called angiotensinogen (AGT). Scientists are to trial a world-first drug to treat high blood pressure that can be given by injection twice a year. Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, medical director, British Heart Foundation, said: "This exciting trial could lead to good news for the millions of people across the UK with high blood pressure, many of whom need to take daily medication to lower their risk of heart attacks and strokes. "The study will determine whether an injection given twice a year lowers blood pressure sufficiently over a prolonged period. "If this proves to be the case, it may provide an alternative to taking daily pills for some patients."

Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death and number one cause of hospitalization in developed countries. Statin drugs are a common drug of choice in the prevention (lower cholesterol) and treatment of heart disease. The research is quite compelling showing the benefits of statin therapy. However does everyone need a statin?