Verve Therapeutics just pulled off something pretty cool. They tested this gene-editing treatment called VERVE-101 in folks with a family history of heart issues, and guess what? A single infusion did wonders in slashing their cholesterol levels. It’s like a potential game-changer for people prone to clogged arteries and heart attacks.
So, what’s the secret sauce? They used CRISPR, that gene-editing magic you’ve probably heard about. They tinkered with liver genes, basically flipping a switch to “turn off” a gene called PCSK9, notorious for jacking up “bad” cholesterol levels. And guess what? It worked big time. PCSK9 dropped by a whopping 84% in the groups that got a higher dose of the treatment. And get this – the positive effects stuck around for a good 2.5 years, at least in studies on monkeys.
Now, why is this a big deal? The usual meds for high cholesterol, like statins, can be a hassle with side effects like muscle pain and memory loss. But this gene-editing therapy could be a game-changer.
Hold up, though. Before you get too excited, there are some risks. Two folks in the trial had what they’re calling a “cardiovascular event” around the time of the infusion. One was unrelated to the treatment, but the other might have a connection. See, that’s the thing with gene editing – there’s always a bit of a wild card because the edits could happen in unexpected places.
And here’s the reality check – before this becomes your go-to treatment, it needs a thumbs up from the FDA, and that means years of testing. Verve got the green light to start trials in the US, but they’re still on the lookout for more folks to join in on the studies in New Zealand and the UK.
