On the basis of preliminary evidence, researchers stated that a new class of experimental drugs, one being developed by Amgen and the other by Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, might be able to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.

These drugs are said to be already known to significantly reduce bad cholesterol. In fact, there are some cases in which these drugs have reduced the cholesterol level to an extent not even achieved by statins.

However, earlier it was not known whether these drugs are able to protect heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular problems. The early results do indicate that they might be able to do so. The manufacturers have sponsored small studies.

These studies have found that both drugs cut-back the rate of the cardiovascular problems by 50%. Dr. Jennifer G. Robinson, lead investigator in the trial of the Sanofi drug, said that they are very happy with the preliminary results, which makes them feel that they are on the right track.

The studies published in The New England Journal of Medicine have been presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology. The researchers mentioned that these studies were carried out on small scale and were designed to know whether the drugs are able to reduce the bad cholesterol and were safe and not whether they could prevent heart attacks.

In order to judge those trials, bigger trials will be needed, which involves tens of thousands of people. Such studies are expected to be over by 2017. Referring to the drug makers’ research, Steven E. Nissen, chairman of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic said, “I do not think that either study answers the question definitively of cardiovascular benefit”.