MEDICS are to develop a groundbreaking gene therapy that aims to cut the risk of a heart attack with one injection.
Research shows some people have natural mutations that dramatically lower levels of “bad cholesterol” — a major factor in many cardiac arrests.
Getty – Contributor
The jab will mimic such people’s natural defence by modifying genes in the liver that make bad cholesterol.
Patients will have an injection of tiny fatty spheres which enter liver cells.
The spheres, called nanolipids, turn off the gene which makes bad cholesterol.
Only 30-40 per cent of the gene needs to be silenced to protect against a heart attack. Sekar Kathiresan, who runs Verve Therapeutics, will develop the jab.
Sex Secrets
Prostitute who earns £2,000 a week reveals the average penis size … and how much she enjoys work
PAINKILLERS ‘KILL’
Taking ibuprofen to treat pain ‘for just ONE DAY increases your risk of heart attack by half’
CHIN UP
The truth about YOUR double chin, what’s really causing it – and the DAFT exercises that can help banish it
So disgusting
Is this the most pus to EVER come out of a spot? Queasy clip shows a man’s neck cyst lasered… and then squeezed
lighten the load
Find out about breast reduction surgery from how the procedure is done to if you can get it done on the NHS
He said: “We want this not only for people who have heart attacks at a young age because of a genetic disorder, but for garden variety heart attacks as well.”
Cardiovascular disease accounts for a quarter of all deaths in England and costs the NHS £7billion a year. Statins are one of the main therapies.
It is hoped to roll out a trial jab within three years to people with rare genetic disorders that make them prone to early heart attacks.
