Have you been counted? Regeneron and Sanofi US join forces with leading cardiovascular organizations to raise awareness of cholesterol

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Sanofi US are collaborating with nationally-recognized patient and professional heart disease organizations to launch Cholesterol Counts, an awareness program that will gauge how much Americans know about cholesterol, their numbers, and the risks associated with high LDL-C (bad cholesterol). American adults are encouraged to visit www.CholesterolCounts.com to take a brief poll and answer a few key questions about their health. The results of the poll will provide a snapshot of cholesterol awareness levels across the country and be revealed in 2015.

"Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the U.S., and our organization works with patients who have experienced serious health consequences that are often related to high bad cholesterol, such as heart attack and stroke," said Michele Packard-Milam, CAE, Executive Director of Mended Hearts. "It's important for people to talk to their doctors and educate themselves about the consequences of high bad cholesterol. The Cholesterol Counts program is a great way for people to gauge how much they know about their own cholesterol and to learn more about this serious condition."

Sanofi US and Regeneron are teaming up with Foundation of the National Lipid Association (FNLA), Mended Hearts and Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association (PCNA) on the Cholesterol Counts program. These groups share a mission to bring attention to high cholesterol and specifically high LDL-C (bad cholesterol), which can lead to buildup of cholesterol plaque in arteries and lead to heart attacks and strokes.¹

Despite available treatment options and efforts to promote healthy lifestyle and diets, the statistics around high cholesterol and its impact remain staggering. Of the approximately 71 million U.S. adults with high LDL-C (bad cholesterol), less than half are currently being treated with lipid-lowering therapy.³ Cholesterol levels remain high for many Americans.²

"It is concerning that millions of Americans with high LDL-C (bad cholesterol) are untreated,"³ said Ralph M. Vicari, MD, Vice President of FNLA. "The Cholesterol Counts program will help us identify the gaps in identification and treatment of high cholesterol. Hopefully, this will result in better treatment and awareness in our country."

Many patients may not be aware of the effects untreated high LDL-C (bad cholesterol) can have on their health, such as heart disease.² Cholesterol Counts aims to rally Americans to take an active role in understanding what can be done to control high LDL-C (bad cholesterol).

Sanofi US and Regeneron are committed to enhancing the care of cardiovascular patients, and their collaboration is focused on helping to address the unmet needs of cardiovascular health. With the assistance of patient and professional organizations, the companies hope to provide resources to patients to help them better understand and take control of their heart health, and Cholesterol Counts is an important part of their efforts.