One of the important factors in the development of cardiovascular diseases is inflammation. It has also been a missing link on how the cardiologists prevented and treated the condition known as atherosclerotic plaques that can lead to heart attacks or strokes. But now a drug colchicine, by Agepha Pharma USA has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The drug will be marketed under the name Lodoco which has become the first anti-inflammatory medication that has been approved by the FDA to treat cardiovascular diseases.
The drug underwent a number of studies before it was cleared that demonstrated that the drug has the ability to reduce myocardial infarction (MI), cardiovascular death in adult patients with atherosclerotic disease, coronary revascularization or with multiple risk factors for CVD. The studies showed that the drug successfully reduced the risk of cardiac events by 31 percent apart from the statin medications and the current standard of care. Agepha Pharma has assured that the drug will be available in the United States in the second half of 2023.
Paul Ridker, the MD, MPH at Harvard Medical School and director of the Centre for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at Bringham and Women’s Hospital in a statement said that the approval of the drug by the FDA is a very important step towards the care for the patients. Ridker expressed that to treat coronary diseases effectively it is important to reduce the inflammation and cholesterol. Patients who are already taking statin could take anti-inflammatory drug Lodoco at a dose of 0.5 on an everyday basis as it significantly reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
It has been known since long that inflammation and high cholesterol increases cardiovascular risks but till now only cholesterol has been treated. Inflammation is a critical contributor in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Patients who suffer from ASCVD are the major contributors of morbidity and mortality rates in the United States. They are at high risk for acute cardiovascular events.
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