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.
From diabetes control to heart protection
The research was led by Professor Mark Febbraio from the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS), who has played a key role in the discovery of IC7Fc and its long-term investigation as a potential new therapy for metabolic diseases.
“Our earlier studies showed IC7Fc could help manage type 2 diabetes, a metabolic disease. This new research shows it can also reduce atherosclerosis, meaning it slows the ‘clogging’ of the arteries, where fatty deposits build up and restrict blood flow to the heart,” Professor Febbraio said.
“Heart disease remains the world’s biggest killer, driven largely by atherosclerosis. Even with common treatments that lower blood pressure and cholesterol, many people are still at risk, showing there’s more work to do.”
Benefits extend beyond weight loss
In previous research, IC7Fc was shown to help reduce appetite and body fat in obese mice, however in this study using lean mice prone to high cholesterol and artery disease, IC7Fc did not change body weight or food intake.
This suggests IC7Fc’s weight-loss effects may mainly apply to obesity, while its heart-protective benefits, like reducing cholesterol buildup in arteries, could still help lean individuals.
The findings highlight IC7Fc’s potential as a versatile treatment and point to the need for further research in humans.
“These results suggest IC7Fc could offer a dual benefit – helping reduce obesity in some, while protecting the heart in others,” Professor Febbraio said.
“It’s an exciting step towards a treatment that targets both metabolic and cardiovascular disease.”
Reference: “The designer cytokine IC7Fc attenuates atherosclerosis development by targeting hyperlipidemia in mice” by Wietse In het Panhuis, Ellen Thiemann, Daisy M. A. H. van Dijk, Bibian Been, Kelsey E. Jarrett, Amber Meurs, Sander Kooijman, Milaine V. Hovingh, Melanie Modder, Bram W. van Os, Thijs J. Sluiter, Niek Blomberg, Amanda C. M. Pronk, Salwa Afkir, Trea C. M. Streefland, Reshma A. Lalai, Maria O. Taveras, Sen Zhang, Timothy E. Adams, Lauren V. Terry, Sarah M. Turpin-Nolan, Margreet R. de Vries, Martin Giera, Stefan Rose-John, Noam Zelcer, Jan Freark de Boer, Thomas Q. de Aguiar Vallim, Mark A. Febbraio, Patrick C. N. Rensen and Milena Schönke, 24 October 2025, Science Advances.
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adx3794
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3 Comments
As a senior lay American with known multiple food allergies aggravated with officially (FDA in the US) approved food poisoning since late 1981, who was first diagnosed with mostly untreated (undesirable side effects) high blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides in 1992, has yet to develop heart disease or diabetes of any kind and has been sharing my now senior lay findings with thousands of professionals of various specialties for twenty years and counting, after browsing the actual article about all I can say is: except for failing to factor-in the cheap and easy ways I have of preventing heart disease and diabetes, what a well designed and executed study. And, too, what a huge waste of time and money. Perhaps the new drug, IC7Fc, has the potential to improve the lives of a lot of already seriously afflicted victims but, to paraphrase an old American adage, I believe ‘a gram of prevention is worth a kilogram of cure.’ Suffice it for me to add, for now, if the US FDA had followed-up on what I wrote them (with replies) in late 2005 and early 2006, there probably wouldn’t be any global epidemics of heart diseases and diabetes to deal with today. Please share!
You seem pretty pleased with yourself Charles, but Im not sure how your anecdotal experience (case study with N=1) is relevant to anyone else. Science likes big numbers so see if you can find a hundred or so others with your experience getting the same results, and then let the rest of us know.
Thanks, Ken, for stimulating old neurons to reactivate to inform you (minimally) that I first wrote the FDA (with replies on file) of my anecdotal findings of connections between food allergies, added MSG, chronic diseases and obesity in October of 2005 (obviously, now, in-vain), with a similar experience writing JACI and The Lancet in 2011. Since 2011, in addition to most of my immediate and extended families and my ongoing personal struggle to survive, I estimate, some 15 million unsuspecting Americans have also died prematurely; large enough numbers for you? If I’m pleased about any of this it’s that at age 82 and still only relatively healthy, I’m still lucid enough to outthink most healthcare professionals. For a brief overview and summary of what I’ve been sharing with thousands of others since 2006. I invite you to visit the “About” page of my ad-free video channel: https://odysee.com/@charlesgshaver:d?view=about Be well.