"A breakthrough drug can slash levels of bad cholesterol by half without the side effects of statins," the Daily Mail reports.
Statins are a class of drug used to reduce high cholesterol levels, they are often given to people thought to be at risk of heart disease or stroke.
A complaint from some people who take statins is that they seem to trigger muscle pains and spasms. In some cases, these side effects are so troublesome that a person stops taking the drug all together.
This study included almost 500 people who previously had muscle problems when they tried several types of statin.
They were randomised to take either low-dose atorvastatin or inactive placebo, and were unaware of which drug they were taking. The researchers found just under half reported muscle problems when taking the statin only.
These people were then randomised to take two alternative non-statin drugs – oral ezetimibe or the new injected drug evolocumab. Overall, researchers found the latter was better at reducing cholesterol.
One practical consideration regarding evolocumab is its cost. The drug is expensive: a year's supply is reported to cost £4,450.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is reported to be making a final decision about whether evolocumab should be offered on the NHS and, if so, in what circumstances.
People should continue to take their statins as prescribed, but anyone with unexplained muscle aches and pains should report these to their doctor. Lowering the dose or trying a different type of statin may help relieve these symptoms.
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