Vaxxinity’s cholesterol vaccine reduces LDL in primates
Promising preclinical results for cholesterol vaccine candidate boost hopes for treatment and prevention of heart disease.
Immunotherapeutic vaccine developer Vaxxinity has published promising preclinical data for its cholesterol vaccine candidate, VXX-401. The findings, published in the Journal of Lipid Research, demonstrate the vaccine reproducibly reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in non-human primates.

High LDL-C is recognized as a significant risk factor for coronary heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes. A candidate for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and prevention of cardiovascular disease, VXX-401 is a synthetic peptide vaccine that targets a protein called PCSK9 to stimulate the immune system, triggering the production of antibodies that inhibit the breakdown of LDL receptors.

In three separate preclinical studies in monkeys, VXX-401 showcased a robust and lasting antibody response against PCSK9, leading to a sustained reduction of LDL-C by an average of 44%. Vaxxinity claims that results so far suggest that VXX-401 holds promise as an immunotherapy for combating PCSK9 and lowering LDL cholesterol, which would have potentially positive implications for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Vaxxinity’s cholesterol vaccine reduces LDL in primates