Heart Health
RNA-targeted drugs for heart disease
These cutting-edge therapies take aim at proteins that play a role in elevated cholesterol levels and high blood pressure.
- Reviewed by Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
Many people swallow two to three drugs daily to lower their cholesterol and blood pressure to healthy levels. What if they could achieve the same results with medications that require just a few injections per year — no pills?
This isn't just a far-flung promise. Inclisiran (Leqvio), a long-lasting injectable drug that dramatically lowers LDL cholesterol, was approved in 2021. It's the first cholesterol-lowering medication that works through RNA interference, a technique that's the basis for an expanding class of novel therapies for treating a variety of diseases. Several additional RNA-targeted drugs for cardiovascular disease are currently in late-stage trials. How exactly do these drugs work, and who might benefit from them?
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About the Author
Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter
About the Reviewer
Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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