Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 1, 2025
Delivery of Modified mRNA in a Myocardial Infarction Mouse Model
Published on: June 11, 2020
Novel RNAi-Based Therapies for Atherosclerosis
Anna-Kaisa Ruotsalainen1,2, Petri Mäkinen1, Seppo Ylä-Herttuala3,4
1A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FIN-70211, Kuopio, Finland.
Insights
Novel RNA interference (RNAi) therapies are emerging for atherosclerosis, a condition causing cardiovascular diseases. Inclisiran, an approved RNAi drug, effectively lowers cholesterol by silencing PCSK9, marking a new era in cardiovascular disease treatment.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Molecular Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Atherosclerosis, characterized by arterial inflammation and lipid accumulation, underlies major cardiovascular diseases (CVD) like coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, and stroke.
- Effective management of atherosclerosis risk factors is crucial for preventing CVD events.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and describe novel RNA interference (RNAi)-based therapies for atherosclerosis.
- To highlight emerging RNAi treatments in clinical trials and on the market.
Main Methods:
- Review of current clinical trials and approved RNAi therapeutics.
- Analysis of the mechanism of action and clinical outcomes of RNAi therapies targeting atherosclerosis risk factors.
Main Results:
- The first RNAi-based therapies are now available for managing atherosclerosis risk factors, specifically blood cholesterol levels.
- Inclisiran, an approved RNAi therapy, silences proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), significantly reducing plasma cholesterol and hypercholesterolemia.
- New RNAi therapies are entering the market, with ongoing evaluation in larger patient populations.
Conclusions:
- RNAi therapeutics represent a significant advancement in cardiovascular disease pharmacotherapy.
- The clinical utility and market integration of these novel RNAi drugs for atherosclerosis require further assessment in real-world settings.
Purpose Of Review:
Atherosclerosis, defined by inflammation and accumulation of cholesterol, extracellular matrix, and cell debris into the arteries is a common factor behind cardiovascular diseases (CVD), such as coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, and stroke. In this review, we discuss and describe novel RNA interference (RNAi)-based therapies in clinical trials and on the market.
Recent Findings:
The first RNAi-based therapies have entered clinical use for the control of atherosclerosis risk factors, i.e., blood cholesterol levels. The most advanced treatment is silencing of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) with a drug called inclisiran, which has been approved for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia in late 2020, and results in a robust decrease in plasma cholesterol levels. As the new RNAi therapies for atherosclerosis are now entering markets, the usefulness of these therapies will be further evaluated in larger patient cohorts. Thus, it remains to be seen how fast, effectively and eminently these new drugs consolidate their niche within the cardiovascular disease drug palette.
More Related Videos
09:06Quantitative Analysis of Cellular Composition in Advanced Atherosclerotic Lesions of Smooth Muscle Cell Lineage-Tracing Mice
Published on: February 20, 2019
12:03Evaluation of the Efficacy And Toxicity of RNAs Targeting HIV-1 Production for Use in Gene or Drug Therapy
Published on: September 5, 2016
Related Concept Videos
01:26Atherosclerosis III: Management
02:30siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs
In the cytoplasm, siRNA is processed from a double-stranded RNA, which comes from either endogenous DNA transcription or exogenous sources like a virus. This double-stranded RNA is then cleaved by the...
01:23Atherosclerosis IV: Nursing Management
01:30Atherosclerosis I: Introduction
02:15Experimental RNAi
01:27Atherosclerosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Tests