Longevity & AgingOne-Time Gene Therapy Cuts Bad Cholesterol by 62% in Early Human Trial
A gene-editing therapy called VERVE-102, developed by Verve Therapeutics and now owned by Eli Lilly, reduced LDL 'bad' cholesterol by 62% in a Phase 1 clinical trial. The treatment is designed as a one-time intervention that permanently edits a gene in the liver responsible for cholesterol regulation. Importantly, no serious side effects were reported — a significant milestone after Verve's earlier gene-editing candidate was shelved due to safety concerns. Heart disease remains the world's leading cause of death, and many patients struggle with daily medications like statins. A durable, single-dose therapy could transform how high cholesterol is managed, potentially preventing millions of cardiovascular events over a lifetime.
