A treatment called plozasiran has shown it can markedly reduce dangerously high triglyceride levels in the blood, according to research published by the New England Journal of Medicine.
The New England Journal of Medicine has posted findings from two phase 3 clinical trials — known as SHASTA-3 and SHASTA-4 — looking at plozasiran, a drug designed to tackle a condition called severe hypertriglyceridaemia (dangerously high levels of a type of fat, called triglycerides, in the blood).
High triglyceride levels are a recognised risk factor for acute pancreatitis — sudden, painful inflammation of the pancreas. That’s a serious condition that can require hospital admission and, in some cases, becomes life-threatening.
Plozasiran works by targeting a specific messenger molecule in the body — known as APOC3 messenger RNA — using a technology called small interfering RNA. In plain terms, it blocks a signal that would otherwise prevent the body from clearing excess fat from the bloodstream. The result, according to the trial data, is a meaningful drop in triglyceride levels.
The drug is not yet widely available. Plozasiran has received UK regulatory approval — under the brand name Redemplo — for adults with a specific inherited condition called familial chylomicronaemia syndrome, used alongside a low-fat diet. Its authorisation does not extend to all forms of severe hypertriglyceridaemia, and it is not yet in routine clinical use for the broader population studied in these trials.
Anyone concerned about their triglyceride levels or their risk of pancreatitis should speak to their GP rather than wait. Blood fat levels are usually picked up through a standard blood test, and diet, lifestyle and existing medications can all affect them.
For urgent health concerns, call NHS 111. In an emergency, dial 999.
Source: @NEJM