Drug to Replace Statins May Soon be Approved

In a month, a new drug may be available for people who suffer from high cholesterol if the Food and Drug Association approves it. Doctors and patients in the Central Valley are watching this closely.

It’s a drug that could be more effective, and carry fewer side effects than statins. It’s called alirocumab, doctors say it’s meant for patients who suffer from high cholesterol and are intolerant to statins because of the side effects which include, muscle pain, liver damage and rashes. To learn more, we spoke with the Chief of Cardiology at UCSF Fresno

"These agents are completely new because they inhibit a protein that is important in the metabolism of bad cholesterol and what they do is by inhibiting that protein, they drive the bad cholesterol down to very low levels," Dr.John Ambrose said.

Good news for Fresno County resident Lance Crooks who was detected with high cholesterol levels four years ago and is unable to deal with the side effects of statins.

"They’re required to be taken on a daily basis to be effective. I couldn’t tolerate that, not and still get out of bed in the morning," Lance Crooks said.

Crooks hopes the new drug will decrease his chances of having a heart attack, stroke or sudden death. The drug would be injected twice a month as opposed to taking a pill every day. But there’s a downside, it may cost up to $ 10,000 a year.  

"When you have a situation that I have and there is another alternative, I’m willing to try that," Crooks said.

If approved on July 24th, doctors will review the guidelines of who can take the new drug. "New guidelines have tried to increase number of individuals who should be treated because we recognize sometimes we wait too long before we treat patients," Dr. Ambrose said.