Sanofi, Regeneron cholesterol drug also effective in monthly doses
(Reuters) – An experimental drug from Sanofi SA and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals was found to be effective in lowering "bad" cholesterol even when administered once every four weeks, instead of every two weeks. The drug, alirocumab, belongs to an emerging class of injectable drugs that block a naturally occurring protein called PCSK9, which inhibits the liver from expelling "bad" LDL cholesterol. These drugs, called PCSK9 inhibitors, are aimed at patients whose cholesterol levels do not fall enough despite the use of statins such as Pfizer Inc's Lipitor, and those who are unable to tolerate them. …
