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Updated: Jun 12, 2025
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Differential Effects of Lipid-lowering Drugs in Modulating Morphology of Cholesterol Particles
Published on: November 10, 2017
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Oral agents for lowering lipoprotein(a)
Stephen J Nicholls1, Adam J Nelson1, Laura F Michael2
1From the Victorian Heart Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
Current Opinion in Lipidology
|September 27, 2024
Summary
Muvalaplin is the first oral medication developed to lower lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels. Clinical trials are underway to confirm if this approach effectively reduces cardiovascular risk.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Drug Development
Background:
- Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is implicated in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and calcific aortic stenosis.
- Currently, no approved therapies exist to lower Lp(a) levels.
- Recent advances primarily involve injectable RNA-targeting agents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the development of oral agents for lowering Lp(a).
- To focus on recent advancements in Lp(a)-lowering therapies.
- To assess oral agents as an approach to reducing cardiovascular risk.
Main Methods:
- Review of scientific literature on Lp(a)-lowering agents.
- Focus on oral small molecule inhibitors.
- Analysis of preclinical and early clinical data for muvalaplin.
Main Results:
- Muvalaplin is the first orally administered small molecule inhibitor of Lp(a).
- It functions by disrupting the binding of apo(a) and apoB.
- Preclinical and early human studies show dose-dependent Lp(a) reduction.
Conclusions:
- Muvalaplin represents a novel oral approach to Lp(a) lowering.
- Its efficacy in reducing cardiovascular risk requires further investigation.
- Ongoing trials will determine its utility in cardiovascular disease prevention.
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