New Drug Could Cut ‘Bad’ Cholesterol Nearly in Half
by Christopher Freeburn | October 16, 2013 9:59 am
[1]Shares of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN[2]) climbed almost 4% in Wednesday morning trading after a late stage trial of a new cholesterol drug showed promising results[3].
Alirocumab, developed in partnership with Sanofi (SNY[4]), is an injectable drug designed to combat LDL cholesterol by attacking PCSK9, a key protein. The drug had been previously tested reducing LDL cholesterol by 70% when administered in combination with other treatments. In the new study, the drug reduced LDL cholesterol by 47% when used by itself, Reuters noted.
Analysts say that injectable cholesterol drugs like Alirocumab could generate revenue of $3 billion a year.
Included in the study were some patients who were only administered Merck‘s (MRK[5]) Zetia cholesterol drug. Patients taking Zetia saw a 15.6% decline in cholesterol levels during the study.
Shares of Sanofi rose slightly in Wednesday morning trading, while Merck moved up almost 1%.
- [Image]: https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/injection-shot-in-the-arm-booster-stocks-630.jpg
- REGN: http://studio-5.financialcontent.com/investplace/quote?Symbol=REGN
- a late stage trial of a new cholesterol drug showed promising results: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/16/regeneron-sanofi-cholesterol-idUSL1N0I52GA20131016
- SNY: http://studio-5.financialcontent.com/investplace/quote?Symbol=SNY
- MRK: http://studio-5.financialcontent.com/investplace/quote?Symbol=MRK
Source URL: https://investorplace.com/2013/10/new-drug-cut-bad-cholesterol-nearly-half/