Experimental Drug That Mimics Thryoid Hormone Safely Lowers 'Bad' Cholesterol, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Study

ScienceDaily (Mar. 11, 2010) — People whose "bad" cholesterol and risk of future heart disease stay too high despite cholesterol-lowering statin therapy can safely lower it by adding a drug that mimics the action of thyroid hormone. In a report published in the Mar. 11, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, Johns Hopkins and Swedish researchers say an experimental drug called eprotirome lowered cholesterol up to 32 percent in those already on statins, an effect equal to that expected from doubling the statin drug doses, without harmful side effects.