U.S. Food And Drug Association Approves Repatha For High Cholesterol

Repatha is a class of drugs which decrease PCSK9 levels and therefore increase LDL receptors in the liver to reduce cholesterol by up to 60% in patients not responding to Statins and other conventional treatments.

Being considered for the last two months, Repatha has won federal approval for use against high cholesterol. For patients with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the drug Repatha might be suitable. John Jenkins, M.D., director of the Office of New Drugs, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research spoke favorably of the drug’s specific use.

“Repatha provides another treatment option in this new class of drugs for patients with familial hypercholesterolemia or with known cardiovascular disease who have not been able to lower their LDL cholesterol enough with statins.”

The drug works by increasing the number of liver receptors which remove LDL cholesterol.

“Participants taking Repatha had an average reduction in LDL cholesterol of approximately 60 percent, compared to placebo.”

As Repatha has such dramatic results, demand is likely to be high due to the potential benefits of increasing the quality and length of life for those suffering from conditions not responding to diet and Statins to lower their cholesterol.

The origin of Repatha came from observations of people with liver mutations — particularly the African-American Population — with the results that the two percent of African-Americans with the mutation naturally had an 80 percent lifelong reduction in LDL-C levels.

Repatha has made the list for one of the top ten medical inventions of all time.

Repatha is believed to have the potential to help millions of Americans with high cholesterol and who are therefore at greater than normal risk of heart disease. When existing methods and drugs fail, Repatha is now the last best defense against heart disease from raised high LDL levels.

The drug is not for everyone but targeted at two specific types of patients.

“—patients with extremely high levels of LDL, or bad cholesterol, due to inherited conditions; and

—patients with persistently high LDL levels and a history of heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular problems.”

Most people can regulate their cholesterol normally by proper diet and exercise. According to WebMD, exercise, avoiding saturated fat, for example substituting good oils like olive oil, for vegetable oil, lard, butter or shortening. In addition, eating more fiber, eating more fish and less red meat, moderate alcohol consumption, and eating more nuts provide some protection without the need of further treatment. Always see your doctor before making any changes to your diet or routine or if you are concerned about your cholesterol levels.

[Image courtesy of McKenney J. Acc; 2012]

U.S. Food And Drug Association Approves Repatha For High Cholesterol is an article from: The Inquisitr News

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