A New Diabetes Drug That Also Affects Cardiovascular Outcomes

Text: Matej Lovšin, photo: Vecteezy

The experimental drug IC7Fc, initially developed to manage type 2 diabetes and body weight, also shows promising effects in preventing cardiovascular disease. A recent preclinical study reveals that the drug lowers cholesterol, blood lipids, and inflammation while simultaneously inhibiting the formation of fatty deposits in blood vessels—key risk factors for heart attacks and strokes.

An international research team led by Leiden University Medical Center published the results in the journal *Science Advances*. In experiments on mice genetically predisposed to high cholesterol, IC7Fc significantly lowered triglyceride and cholesterol levels and reduced atherosclerosis—that is, the gradual “clogging” of blood vessels.

An important finding of the study is that these protective effects occurred even without any impact on body weight. While the drug reduced appetite and body weight in obese mice in previous studies, it had no such effects in lean mice; nevertheless, it successfully protected their blood vessels. This suggests that IC7Fc could also benefit people who are not overweight but who are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. As study lead Professor Mark Febbraio of Monash University points out, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide despite existing treatments. The new findings therefore represent an important step toward developing a drug that would simultaneously address both metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors. However, further clinical research will be needed before it can be used in humans.