A new type of injection to lower cholesterol in the blood has now been approved for use both by EU and the UK.

EARA member, Novartis, Switzerland, has received approval for inclisiran, a jab that reduces ‘bad fat’ in people with a high risk of heart disease.

In studies with mice and monkeys, the drug was shown to turn off a gene called PCSK9 which helped the liver remove harmful cholesterol from the blood and break it down.

“Inclisiran represents a potential game-changer in preventing thousands of people from dying prematurely from heart attacks and strokes,” said Meindert Boysen, deputy chief executive of the UK’s standards body NICE.