Study: Investigational Drug Significantly Raises 'Good Cholesterol' Levels
DETROIT (WWJ) - There's new hope for those struggling with their cholesterol. The Journal of the American Medical Association Tuesday morning is releasing a study on a new investigational drug that is yet to be named.
Providence Hospital cardiologist Dr. Shukri David said the drug appears to help raise "good cholesterol" levels significantly.
"We don't currently have a very good treatment regimen to help patients who have low HDLs. This new drug appears to be promising in improving the HDL level in reducing the bad level," he said.
David said the drug works much better at raising HDLs than the much-touted red wine.
"Alcohol, one to two ounces, particularly red wine, to a certain extent improves it a little bit, but not to any reasonable degree, we're talking about small changes. With these drugs, we're talking about 50 percent decrease in bad cholesterol."
Preliminary studies show the new drug in its highest dose can raise good cholesterol by 130 percent.
