SIRNAs(small interfering RNAs) are a new ‘game changing class of drugs’ being developed to treat various diseases including elevated cholesterol, lipoprotein(a) and hypertension. These drugs have the potential to give freedom in future to the ‘popping the pill everyday’ treatment pattern presently adopted to treat various chronic diseases.
DCGI,USFDA,CE and EMA approved Inclisiran (Brand name Sybrava), the first SIRNA, launched recently in India is the safest and longest acting lipid lowering therapy presently available. With one subcutaneous injection this drug can reduce the bad LDL cholesterol levels by 50%, lipoprotein (a) by 25% and triglycerides by 10% for 6 months.
A drug class called ‘Statins’ are the present ‘standard of care’ for treating high blood cholesterol levels. Statins are in use from the last 25 years and have proof of more than 30 major research studies to reduce heart attack, stroke, need for angioplasty and cardiac bypass surgery by upto 50% when used in the right doses. It’s unfortunate that statins are under-utilised and their benefits denied to many needy patients. Many Indian patients are unaware of the fact that cholesterol lowering drugs are prescribed with the primary intention to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Though Inclisiran is more safer than statins, is currently recommended as add on therapy to ‘statins’ or in ‘statin intolerant patients’, as it has only few studies to back up and with additional research in the coming years it is likely replace statins, said researcher and cardiologist Dr Prasad M. R.
It’s a matter of pride for Belagavi people as the first commercial injection in India was used here on Thursday in KLES Dr Prabhakar Kore Hospital and MRC by Dr. Prasad M.R. He has the experience and confidence of Inclisiran’s safety as he already used 100+ such injections over the last 1.5years in the research settings.
Presently it’s cost is Rs.1,20,000 and will be cheaper by the year 2033 once the innovator loses its patent rights.
Dr. Prasad MR
Consultant Interventional Cardiologist
KLES Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital
Belagavi.
