Drug to combat heart disease and diabetes

Scientists at Sydney University claim to have developed a drug that can combat both Heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. They announced that the drug has been designed to advance “good” cholesterol levels; further, results from early trials have established that the drug decreases the risk of heart disease and stabilizes blood sugar levels.

“Good” cholesterol impedes hardening of arteries thus decreasing levels of heart problems and is therefore vital for the body.

During the course of their research, scientists found that the drug torcetrapib improved blood sugar control when it was administered alongside statins; hence, scientists believe that the drug could provide patients with “real benefits.”
Britain’s newspaper, the Daily Mail, reported that two drugs (dalcetrapib and anaecetrapib) in the same class are now being developed.

More than 15,000 people in the age group of 45 to 75 with a history of heart attack, stroke, chest pain, peripheral vascular disease, or angioplasty were involved in the clinical trial. It was observed that 7,000 people with Type 2 diabetes showed progress in their blood sugar control. The findings published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, Circulation, have been described by Lead scientist Prof. Philip Barter as “an exciting prospect that may translate into real health benefits for people with diabetes.”

Although the experimental drug was not as effective as other drugs in combating diabetes, it demonstrated the potential to prevent the disease from worsening added Prof. Barter. A spokesperson for the British Heart Foundation, however, announced that it was too early to remark on the efficiency of these drugs.