A single infusion of a gene-editing treatment lowered LDL cholesterol by an average of 62 percent in people with an inherited form of high cholesterol, with the reduction holding steady for at least six months, according to results from a small early-stage clinical trial. The findings, reported in the Ars Technica article , highlight the potential of one-time therapies that target the root genetic causes of cardiovascular disease rather than relying on daily pills. The experimental drug, developed by Verve Therapeutics, uses a base-editing approach to permanently switch off a gene called PCSK9 in the liver. PCSK9 normally prevents the body from clearing LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream. By disabling it, the treatment allows the liver to remove far more LDL, often called bad cholesterol, dramatically lowering the risk of heart attacks and strokes.…