NHS to roll out new cholesterol-lowering drug that ‘could save 30,000 lives’

NHS to roll out new cholesterol-lowering drug that 'could save 30,000 lives'

NHS to roll out new cholesterol-lowering drug that 'could save 30,000 lives' Credit: Pixabay

NHS to roll out new cholesterol-lowering drug that ‘could save 30,000 lives’ over the next 10 years. It is expected that hundreds of thousands of people will be eligible for the life-saving treatment on the NHS.

Over the next three years the new medication, called inclisiran, will be available to around 300,000 patients who are suffering from high cholesterol. These patients will also need to have a history of cardiovascular disease too, in order to be eligible for the treatment.

The cholesterol-lowering drug will be given by injection and patients will be up to receive it at their GP surgery, rather than having to head to hospital.

Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of the NHS, said that the NHS is “using cutting-edge treatments to save and improve patients’ lives”.

“Heart disease is still one of the major killer conditions, so it is fantastic that we now have such an effective and convenient treatment for those living with dangerously high cholesterol levels,”

“This world-leading deal for the rollout of inclisiran will save lives and enable hundreds of thousands of people to benefit from this revolutionary treatment, while also being fair to taxpayers.”

Chief executive of HEART UK, Jules Payne, said that the new treatment will be “an additional tool in the armour against cardiovascular disease”.

“High cholesterol is very common and a major cause of cardiovascular disease, but the lack of symptoms means the first sign of the problem is often a heart attack,” added Payne.

Sajid Javid, the Health Secretary commented that the: “life-saving new treatment will make a difference to hundreds of thousands of people across England”,

“This is a huge step forward in tackling the scourge of heart disease, which tragically kills thousands every year.”


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Alex
Written by

Alex Glenn

Originally from the UK, Alex is based in Almeria and is a web reporter for The Euro Weekly News covering international and Spanish national news. Got a news story you want to share? Then get in touch at editorial@euroweeklynews.com.

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