Gene editing could reduce cholesterol

Gene editing technology has been used to lower cholesterol by up to 60 per cent.

A trial in monkeys targeted a protein known as PCSK9 which is known to inhibit the clean-up of “bad cholesterol”, increasing the risk of heart disease.

Published in the journal Nature Biotechnology, the study marks the first time that scientists have achieved a clinically significant reduction of a gene expression in a large animal, raising hopes of a cure for high cholesterol in humans.

PCSK9 inhibitor drugs have previously been used with some success but are too risky for many patients to use. Dr Lili Wang, of the University of Pennsylvania, said: “Patients who cannot tolerate inhibitor drugs might no longer need this type of repeat treatment.”