Research (Wash D C). 2026 May 19;9:1288. doi: 10.34133/research.1288. eCollection 2026.
ABSTRACT
Lipid accumulation drives the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death worldwide. The liver is the primary target for lipid-lowering therapies due to its central role in lipid metabolism. Despite advances in small-molecule drugs, substantial residual cardiovascular risk remains. Recent clinical evidence in 2026 reaffirms the "lower is better" paradigm, showing that achieving very low low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (<55 mg/dl) improves outcomes versus standard goals (<70 mg/dl). RNA-targeted therapeutics, including antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), offer a transformative approach by durably silencing genetically validated lipid targets. Conjugation to N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) enables hepatocyte-specific delivery. Examples include inclisiran (targeting proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 [PCSK9]) and agents against apolipoprotein C-III (APOC3), lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], and angiopoietin-like protein 3 (ANGPTL3). Beyond protein-coding messenger RNAs (mRNAs), RNA therapeutics can also target noncoding RNAs (microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs) that regulate cholesterol homeostasis. Additionally, mRNA lipid nanoparticle-based in vivo base editing (e.g., VERVE 101/102 targeting PCSK9) has entered clinical trials, offering potential for permanent genetic correction with a single infusion. In the future, RNA-targeted therapeutics may expand beyond hepatic lipid modulation to directly target vascular lipid metabolism and plaque biology. Advances in extrahepatic delivery and rational combination regimens could transform RNA therapy from transient lipid-lowering to long-term, disease-modifying interventions. The recent 2026 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association dyslipidemia guideline emphasizes the clinical importance of targeting PCSK9, APOC3, Lp(a), and ANGPTL3. This review provides a state-of-the-art overview of RNA-targeted therapeutics in hyperlipidemia and discusses future research directions in this emerging field.
PMID:42164756 | PMC:PMC13184955 | DOI:10.34133/research.1288