The experimental drug IC7Fc reduces artery-clogging fats and inflammation in mice, pointing to a potential new strategy for preventing heart disease.
Earlier work linked the experimental drug ‘IC7Fc’ to improvements in type 2 diabetes, and new research now points to a possible role in cardiovascular health as well. Scientists report that the compound may lower the risk of heart disease by reducing harmful cholesterol in the bloodstream and calming inflammatory activity that damages blood vessels over time.
The findings come from a preclinical study published in Science Advances, led by researchers at Leiden University Medical Centre in the Netherlands in collaboration with Monash University and other international partners.
In experiments involving mice genetically predisposed to heart disease, treatment with IC7Fc led to clear reductions in blood fat (triglycerides) and cholesterol, markers closely linked to the development of cardiovascular complications.
The study also found that the drug limited the formation of fatty plaques along artery walls and reduced inflammation within the vessels themselves. Because plaque buildup and chronic inflammation are central drivers of heart attacks and strokes, the researchers say these results highlight IC7Fc’s potential to influence multiple processes involved in heart disease, while underscoring the need for further studies to determine whether similar effects occur in humans.
