Drug could prevent heart attacks

A DRUG which lowers “bad” cholesterol and raises “good” cholesterol could help prevent millions of heart attacks every year, researchers revealed yesterday.

In a US study, the drug was found to double levels of good cholesterol, or HDL, in patients with low readings. At the same time, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and Tufts University, found the drug, torcetrapib, also reduced LDL, the bad cholesterol. Good cholesterol reduces risk of heart disease while bad cholesterol raises it.

Although the study was small (involving 19 patients) its results were said to be striking.