ApoA-1 Milano

A naturally-occurring mutated strain of the apoA-1 protein found in human HDL. First identified by Cesare Sirtori in Milan, it has been shown to significantly reduce arterial plaque.

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Discovered by accident, the mutation was found to be present in about 3.5% of a tiny village called Limone sul Garda in northern Italy. It has been traced to a mutation in a single man living in the village in the 1700s.

Due to its enormous apparent efficacy, some have speculated that development of synthetic apoA-1 Milano may be a key factor in eradicating coronary heart disease.

No drugs are currently commercially available based on apoA-1 Milano. Rights to apoA-1 Milano were acquired in 2003 by Pfizer. Clinically known as ETC-216, Pfizer has not moved trials forward, posssibley because the drug must be administred intravenously, thus limiting its application as compared to oral medications^[1].

References

1. ^ Sue Hughes, ERASE: New HDL Mimetic Shows Promise, Heartwire

• Time.com: Drano for the Heart
• USATODAY.com: 'Next frontier' in heart disease: Undoing it
• About.com: Synthetic HDL shrinks coronary artery plaques