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Very soon doctors will carry out anti-cholesterol vaccination

Alexey Portnov, medical expert
Last reviewed: 23.11.2021

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17 July 2017, 11:00

Elevated levels of cholesterol in the blood often lead to impaired blood circulation, to a worsening trophism of tissues and organs

Recently, scientists have sounded good news: they were able to conduct successful testing of a unique vaccine, which is capable of lowering the level of cholesterol.

The action of the new drug is aimed at creating a kind of immunity against atherosclerosis. Studies on rodents have already shown excellent results. The effect and harmlessness of the vaccine were officially confirmed when used in mice. And now experts analyze the results of testing the drug on the first group of volunteers.

Anticholesterin vaccine promotes the synthesis of antibodies against the substance PCSK9. Put simply, the drug depresses the properties of the enzyme, which delays cholesterol in the bloodstream.

Directed immune action against the enzyme accelerates the withdrawal from the circulatory system of high-density lipoproteins, which leads to stabilization of the blood composition.

The increased cholesterol in the body is mainly due to inaccuracies in the diet or with congenital disorders of fat metabolism. To date, atherosclerosis is considered the main problem, which leads to the development of a huge number of diseases, and in people of any age.

Until now, the main drugs that were used to normalize the level of cholesterol in the blood, were statins. These are medications that should be taken every day. Statins rarely lead to complications, but side effects are not excluded, among them - type 2 diabetes.

There is also a new generation of biological agents, whose action is aimed at combating excess cholesterol. Such agents are monoclonal antibodies blocking the PCSK9 enzyme. The minus of such drugs is their high cost and temporary effect.

The new vaccine in question forces the body to produce these antibodies independently.

"Our anti-cholesterol drug promotes the production of monoclonal antibodies that selectively affect PCSK9 - this effect was detected throughout the experiment. We were able to observe a decrease in the content of "bad" cholesterol, as well as the removal of symptoms of atherosclerotic attack and inflammatory reaction, "- said the research staff member Professor Gunter Schaffler.

Further, the professor added that anti-cholesterol vaccination does not have any fundamental differences from other vaccinations. A single injection of the vaccine leads to a stable immune response, but not to microorganisms, but to an enzyme substance.

The first experiments on humans were carried out two years ago, with the Austrian Medical University of Vienna. Experts analyzed the effect of the drug on 72 voluntary participants suffering from high cholesterol.

Completely the results of the study will be known only at the end of this year, since the experiment is not yet complete.

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