A new study presented at the American College of Cardiology has found that bempedoic acid, an alternative to statins, can significantly lower cholesterol and the risk of heart attacks without the severe side effects associated with statins. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that bempedoic acid reduced LDL cholesterol levels by an average of 18.9% with no serious side effects, and may be a viable option for patients who cannot or will not take statins.