Medical study: Experimental drug lowers triglycerides by up to 45 percent

A recent medical study showed that a new experimental drug contributed to lowering blood triglyceride levels by percentages ranging between 39 and 45 percent compared to the placebo, after 12 weeks of treatment, paving the way for the development of new treatment options for people suffering from elevated triglycerides.

The New England Medical Journal reported in a study published yesterday Monday that the clinical trial, named "TIDAL-TIME 78," included 236 people and tested an experimental drug known as "MAR 001." The study was led by a research team headed by Dr. Michelle O'Donoghue from Brigham and Women's Hospital, affiliated with the Mass General Brigham Foundation in the United States, in collaboration with the "TIME" research group specializing in cardiovascular diseases.

The results showed that the drug reduced triglyceride levels by 39.1 percent at a dose of 300 mg, 40.5 percent at a dose of 450 mg, and 45.3 percent at a dose of 900 mg, compared to the placebo, after 12 weeks of treatment. The new drug works by inhibiting a protein known as "Angiopoietin-like protein 4," a protein involved in regulating body fat levels, and its inhibition helps activate an enzyme responsible for breaking down triglycerides, leading to a reduction in their blood levels.

Study results showed that side effects in people who received the drug were no more common than those recorded in the group that received the placebo, and no signs of deterioration in blood sugar control were recorded during the follow-up period, which lasted 24 weeks. The importance of these results lies in the fact that elevated triglycerides, especially when reaching very high levels, increase the risk of pancreatitis, and are also associated with cardiovascular disease risks.

This study reflects the importance of modern medical research in developing treatments targeting mechanisms regulating body fats, which may contribute in the future to improving patient treatment and reducing complications associated with elevated triglycerides.

Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)