"Preliminary research suggests that a single injection of a manmade protein might lower levels of bad cholesterol. Given in the abdomen AMG reduced lowdensity lipoprotein LDL cholesterol levels among a group of healthy volunteers. The shot turned off a newly identified cholesterol regulator PCSK which interferes with the livers ability to clear bad cholesterol from the bloodstream. The findings were presented Monday at the American Heart Association AHA annual meeting in Orlando Fla. The study was funded by AMG manufacturer Amgen Inc. High cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease. The first step toward lowering cholesterol is typically lifestyle changes which include eating a lowfat diet and regular physical activity. For some medications such as statins must be added to get cholesterol levels where they ought to be. Even this is not enough to get everyones numbers into the safety zone and not everyone can tolerate currently available medications. An LDL of less than  mgdL of blood is considered optimal. Study author Clapton Dias medical sciences director of clinical pharmacology and early development at Amgen in Thousand Oaks Calif. said this shot could be given as an addon to current cholesterollowering therapies for people who are not getting as low as they should be or as a standalone treatment for people who cant tolerate existing lipidlowering drugs. Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in the U.S. and while statins are very effective a good proportion of people are not meeting their goals and in this setting the shot could be a valuable addition he said. The study included  men and two women aged  to  who did not have elevated cholesterol levels. Participants received one of five doses of the new drug delivered via shot or intravenously or a placebo. Researchers measured LDL cholesterol levels for  to  days after treatment. The new drug did hit its target PCSK and decreased levels of LDL cholesterol by up to  percent. There were also decreases seen in levels of total cholesterol and apoB tiny fat particles in the blood that also increase the risk for heart disease. Levels of triglycerides and good HDL cholesterol were not altered by the medication and there were no serious side effects reported. Now researchers are testing the new shot in people who have high cholesterol. Cardiologists were cautiously optimistic about the novel therapy. Former AHA President Dr. Ralph Sacco said that it is too early to make any predictions about what role if any this therapy will have in lowering cholesterol levels but it could one day fill an important void. Even though statins are so effective at lowering cholesterol and reducing risk for heart disease and stroke they do need to be taken every day and they can have certain side effects in some people said Sacco who is also chairman of neurology at the University of Miami. Statin side effects can include liver damage andor muscle pain. This new shot may provide a more longlasting approach especially if it could be given once a month Sacco said. Dr. Dan Rader director of preventive cardiology at the University of Pennsylvania said that PCSK is the hottest target for new treatments to lower LDL cholesterol. And these study results will probably fuel that fire he added. A plus percent reduction in LDL with a single dose of this antibody is impressive he said. It is the early days but the data look strong. We now need more data with people who have repeated dosing and are followed for longer periods of time Rader added. There are still plenty of people who cant achieve adequate LDL levels with existing drugs including statins he noted. Plus people may find it easier to get a shot every two weeks or monthly than to take a pill every day. Research presented at meetings should be considered preliminary until published in a peerreviewed medical journal. More information Learn about existing treatments for high cholesterol at the American Heart Association http_UCM__Article.jsp. SOURCES Clapton Dias Ph.D. medical sciences director of clinical pharmacology and early development Amgen Inc. Thousand Oaks Calif. Ralph Sacco M.D. chairman neurology University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and past president American Heart Association Dan Rader M.D. director preventive cardiology University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Nov.   presentation American Heart Association annual meeting Orlando Fla."