NEW BIOTECHNOLOGICAL TREATMENTS FOR LIPID DISORDERS

Disorders of lipid and lipoprotein metabolism play a central role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Despite the widespread use of efficacious lipid-modifying therapies, the residual risk of CVD remains unacceptably high. The purpose of this manuscript is to review the application of new technologies in the treatment of lipid disorders. New therapies work mostly at the gene expression level and are, therefore, different from traditional small-molecule drugs that work mainly by inhibiting already synthesized proteins. We will briefly lay out the function of the gene products targeted by the new agents. Then, we will organize our review of new biotechnological treatments by the molecular approach, namely: monoclonal antibodies, antisense oligonucleotides, small-interfering RNAs, and Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated 9 (Cas9)-based genome editing. The paper concludes with the description of the current clinical studies and the perspectives for the use of these agents. (REV INVEST CLIN. 2018;70:244-54).