Thyroid-hormone mimic lowers LDL

From Boston, at a meeting of the Endocrine Society

A compound in a new class of potential anti-cholesterol drugs has passed an early test in people, researchers report.

The drug would mimic thyroid hormone, which reduces blood concentrations of low-density lipoproteins (LDL), or bad cholesterol. But the hormone also raises the risk of heart arrhythmia, osteoporosis, and muscle damage, so researchers have attempted to create a stand-in that would avoid the side effects.