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Eli Lilly Tests One-Time Gene-Editing Infusion for High Cholesterol
Eli Lilly is conducting early trials of VERVE-102, a gene-editing therapy designed to lower LDL cholesterol after a single four-hour infusion. An initial study of 35 participants showed LDL reductions of up to 62 percent, with effects lasting up to 18 months in more than one-third of patients.
May 31, 6:31 PM·1m read1 source
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Drugmaker Eli Lilly is testing an experimental gene-editing therapy called VERVE-102 that aims to reduce LDL cholesterol after one four-hour infusion. The treatment works by switching off the PCSK9 gene in the liver, which produces a protein that regulates cholesterol levels, according to a company news release issued this week.
An early study involving 35 people found that the therapy lowered LDL cholesterol by as much as 62 percent after a single dose. More than one-third of participants maintained lower levels for up to 18 months.
The Food and Drug Administration previously granted fast-track designation to the VERVE-102 study. Eli Lilly said it plans to begin a larger Phase 2 trial by the end of 2026. The current study did not assess whether the treatment prevents heart attacks or strokes.
Researchers noted the small participant size limits conclusions about broader effectiveness. Nearly 25 million Americans have high cholesterol, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports, and the condition is a major risk factor for heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States.
