Novel RNAi-Based Therapies for Atherosclerosis.

Anna-Kaisa Ruotsalainen, Petri Mäkinen, Seppo Ylä-Herttuala

Journal: Current atherosclerosis reports 2021;23(8):45

PMID: 34146172

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Abstract

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.

Address: A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FIN-70211, Kuopio, Finland.; Kuopio Center for Gene and Cell Therapy, FIN-70210, Kuopio, Finland.; A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FIN-70211, Kuopio, Finland. [email protected].; Heart Center and Gene Therapy Unit, Kuopio University Hospital, P.O. Box 1777, FIN-70211, Kuopio, Finland. [email protected].

DOI: 10.1007/s11883-021-00938-z