Researchers from the University of New Mexico and the National Institutes of Health are developing a new vaccine to lower cholesterol levels.
The new vaccine, which researchers claim have shown promise among tests on mice and monkeys, was first published in the journal Vaccine, revealing that prevention of bad cholesterol build up may be achieved through an injectable process.
"One of the most exciting things about this new vaccine is it seems to be much more effective than statins alone," said Dr. Bryce Chackerian of the University of New Mexico, the study's author.
While diet and exercise are the most recommended solutions to prevent bad cholesterol, a lot of people are taking statins to lower their cholesterol levels. And while statins are relatively safe and effective for most people, it can also have potential serious side effects including muscle pain, increased risk of diabetes and cognitive loss.
"Statins are still the most commonly prescribed medication for cholesterol. Although they are effective in many people, do have side effects and don't work for everyone," said Dr. Alan Remaley, one of the authors of the study from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health.
"The results of our vaccine were very striking, and suggest it could be a powerful new treatment for high cholesterol," he added.
The new vaccine, if proven successful, will eventually become an alternative to statins in preventing cholesterol build up. According to Time, the new vaccine targets a protein called PCSK9 that is involved in the management of cholesterol levels in the blood.
The researchers did a test on lab animals like mice and monkeys and discovered that by interfering with PCSK9, cholesterol levels are lowered and by just one vaccination, LDL cholesterol (or bad cholesterol) has significantly cut down.
Whether the vaccine is viable for humans, they will have to do more research.
