Pfizer Inc. (PFE), Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc (REGN): Are These Drugs the Future of High-Cholesterol Treatment?

Meanwhile, Alnylam is taking a slightly different approach to interrupting the PCSK9 pathway. The company’s experimental drug, dubbed ALN-PCS, works by silencing the RNA — an information molecule similar to DNA — responsible for synthesizing the target protein. It demonstrated the ability to reduce PCSK9 protein levels by 84% and LDL cholesterol levels by up to 50% in a small phase 1 trial completed in 2012. Alnylam is awaiting data from additional trials before beginning mid-stage development.

Some of these competitors may drop out of the race as trials progress, but the market for next-generation cholesterol drugs looks to be a crowded one. How much will that matter in the nearly $40 billion market chocked full of generic statins? It is too soon to say.

Foolish bottom line
The important thing for investors to remember is that data will be crucial for disrupting the well-established statin market. While the medical community understands that lowering LDL cholesterol is an important step for reducing the risk of heart attack, it will take years to capture more meaningful long-term safety data. Still, the mid-stage data from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:REGN) and Amgen, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) look impressive. With an estimated 1 million statin-intolerant Americans awaiting better treatment options, it seems that there is an enormous immediate opportunity for effective therapies.

The article Are These Drugs the Future of High-Cholesterol Treatment? originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Maxx Chatsko has no position in any stocks mentioned. Check out his personal portfolio, his CAPS page, or follow him on Twitter @BlacknGoldFool to keep up with his writing on energy, bioprocessing, and biotechnology.The Motley Fool recommends Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ALNY). 

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