There is nothing secretive about the fact that our identity as a human race is rooted in various different elements. It’s rooted in our habits, our intentions, and also quite significantly in our evolution. Evolution is in this conversation largely because of how it has added a unique value to our existence over time. You see, things like, let’s say, human intellect and emotional awareness were purely foreign for our ancestors, but with some extensive progression across multiple frontiers, we were able to understand them and many other elements. What’s more fascinating is that even after making such generational breakthroughs, we have continued to move steadily towards a better tomorrow. Now, the by-products of doing so, as you can guess, were always going to be beneficial beyond any limits, but one by-product that really hit this point home was technology. Before we sit down to assess technology’s achievements on a holistic level, we must understand why it was so successful. The answer is simpler than you think. The meaningful way in which technology prioritized our convenience over everything else really sold the idea to us, and in all honesty, we haven’t looked back since then. Remaining firmly on the tech-inspired path, the world is making fresh strides each day, with its latest one coming on the back of an FDA approval.
US Food and Drug Administration has officially approved Novartis’ new cholesterol-lowering drug, Leqvio. It’s the first ever drug that we’ll see using RNA technology for addressing high cholesterol complications. While the target of Novartis’ drug will be similar to what Amgen and Regeneron are targeting with their already available medicine, there are certain differences separating them. For instance, Novartis’ take on lowering cholesterol expresses a more economically feasible treatment, as the patient is required to have only two injections per year, whereas versions from Amgen and Regeneron need to be prescribed every two weeks or, if you are lucky, on a monthly basis. The exuberant prices of these drugs coupled with their frequencies turns the whole thing pretty unaffordable for numerous people out there. Furthermore, the companies also differ in the application. Up until now, all drugs within the said context focused on inhibiting PCSK9, a liver protein responsible for clearing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol or we can also say the bad form of cholesterol. However, Leqvio will work through gene silencing, thus stopping the production of problematic protein altogether.
The FDA approval arrives following a successful Phase 3 clinical trial where 3,457 patients had their cholesterol level reduced by 52% compared to the ones given placebo.
“We know these customers very well and we are targeting them with a highly skilled and experienced workforce,” said Victor Bulto, head of Novartis Pharma US.
As far as price is concerned, a Leqvio dose will cost you around $3,250.
