Chloresterol drug, clinical trial.

[Geoff47]

I have been contacted by my GP asking if I would like to participate in a trial of a drug to lower chloresterol.

My history is that I had high chloresterol 25 years ago which resulted in blocked arteries and necessitated a heart bypass surgery. I also had a mild heart attack 6 years ago but no reason for this was found.

I have been on statins since undergoing the bypass and my ldl chloresterol has been kept at an acceptable level between 3 and 4.

The trial which will take 12 months will involve an under skin injection every 4 weeks with close and regular monitoring of bloods, ecg etc.

So after discussing with a nurse, I agreed to take part in the trial. I have to have an assessment consultation with a doctor first and if suitable will be accepted into the trial. I can of course withdraw at any time.

I decided to participate in the trial, as high chloresterol could have caused my demise without drugs and surgery, so I feel that I am giving something back to help others in the future. Apparantly this a stage three trial and the drugs have already been tested on humans.

Just wondering if anyone here has or is parcipatating in drug trials and if they have any comments or advice?

[Hidden]

Dear Geoff47

Just a big thank you from me for taking part in this clinical trial, without volunteering as you have done these drugs would not get off the development bench.

I hope I never have to use it but if I do it will be thanks to persons as yourself for making it happen.

Take care.

[Hidden]

I was going to participate in a 5 year medical trial for Inclisiran and was all set up to start after a rigorous screening, but then Covid struck, and everything was suspended, and that's the last I heard of it. Since then I have taken part in a trial of a device for those diagnosed with a breathing disorder (like COPD). If my experience is anything to go by you will receive all the help and guidance you need before, during and after your trial so just go for it, although don't expect any medals 😉

[SPV123]

Hi, I was also offered this trial, and went for the assesment, i couldnt go ahead with it as your cholesterol has to be above 4 , Good luck to you,

[MarmiteB]

Disclaimer!! This is just a big guess and I don’t know anything !! But it seems logical to me…don’t shoot me

Oh this is very interesting! What is your total cholesterol? Do you know what the type of drug is? Any chance it could be a biopharmaceutical?

I’m only 34, have had x2 CABG and my cardiologist was talking about a therapy using monoclonal antibodies which are an injection. This type of drug, called a biopharmaceutical, is eye-wateringly expensive as the process to make them, develop and test costs millions (I work in the pharma industry). To get monoclonal anitibodies on the NHS you have to a sky high LDL/total cholesterol/be very young/ Familial Hypercholesterolemia for them to even consider it as just for one patient it could be hundreds of thousands of pounds over a treatment period.

So, I’m wondering if they have made a biosimilar for this treatment? A biosimilar is a biologic medical product that is almost an identical copy of an original product. It’s like a generic drug, such as paracetamol, but is made with a biological process. It’s about 30% cheaper as they don’t have to put it through such intensive testing and the molecule is already made and proven to work - they have just tweaked a tiny part of it.

If your interested in what they might be copying my guess would be Evinacumab and it’s been shown to lower LDL by almost half.

Good luck and ask your Dr about it all. If you ask “Is this drug a biosimilar of monoclonal antibody?” I’m sure she/he will be impressed !! And if the answer is yes, if it was me, I’d be saying yes, it’s some of the best medicine out there.

Let us know what they say

[Hidden in reply to MarmiteB]

Very interesting thank you

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi Geoff. mysterious ways seems, I am on a med called Repatha 140mg/ml injectable every 2 weeks under skin...for a 240 cholestral problem ,with high tryclicerides and LDL.....GP asked me to do this and has other patients with good results also= after about 1 1/2 years on this med----have seen 250 cholesteral down to150 and tryclicerides 175 down to down to 150........no Problems! I give it to myself with a sure click pen.............but also have a panic attack as on going thing for which take meteprolol 100mg 2x a day ,timed released which makes for side effect nausea a bit bothers my appitite ...so hard to watch that central nervous system side effect of diet, but use Ensure food supplament when needed and exercise walking is a chore a bit, for had met a red light runner at intersection and rolled over 3 times in around large intersection, which glass explosion from my car side, rolling around in glass, leaves it's sounds/ PTSD,...in slow motion ......and also taking 150 mg depression med sertralene for that ...and xanax for emergency calming,..am born 1947,...doing ok, and pleased with the results have gotten thus far.... for can't take statin med... makes my muscles ache continually, ....... GP is a believer in getting this results he wanted!.. and music of well being does wonders and is golden for me , as I have learned in my later life and do hold onto music so very tightly always....and all nature flows in the =minor key, and healing enjoyed so very much...leaves in tree's breeze, creek running by, ocean waves, wind, river, rain,..... a place of healing to me,....and hope your doing well .......carolyn