Study Highlights Challenges with Lipid-Lowering Therapies Despite Efficacy
New study data reinforce the long-term efficacy and safety of Amgen’s evolocumab (Repatha) in individuals at risk for heart attack and stroke, but an additional analysis highlights challenges associated with use of lipid-lowering therapies (LLTs) in these patients.
New study data reinforce the long-term efficacy and safety of Amgen’s evolocumab (Repatha) in individuals at risk for heart attack and stroke, but an additional analysis highlights challenges associated with use of lipid-lowering therapies (LLTs) in these patients, according to a press release.
Evolocumab, which is a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor, was approved in 2015 by the FDA as an adjunct to diet and other low-density lipoprotein- (LDL) lowering therapies, such as statins, in patients with primary hyperlipidemia and homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, who require additional lowering of LDL cholesterol (LDL-C). Evolocumab is also indicated for adults with established cardiovascular disease to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and coronary revascularization.
The Open-Label Study of Long-Term Evaluation Against LDL-C (OSLER-1) is the longest duration study of a PCSK9 inhibitor to date, Amgen stated in the press release. The trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of evolocumab over 5 years in patients with hypercholesterolemia, including those with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia on background statin therapy and patients with statin intolerance. During the first year, patients received either evolocumab 420 mg monthly in addition to standard of care (SOC) or SOC alone for the remaining 4 years of the study.
Based on the results, long-term treatment with evolocumab was associated with robust and consistent reductions in LDL-C, with no increase in overall rates of adverse events over time and no neutralizing antibodies. According to the data, patients treated with evolocumab achieved a 59% reduction in mean LDL-C from baseline during the first year of treatment. The mean LDL-C reductions at years 2, 3, 4, and 5 were 56%, 57%, 56%, and 56%, respectively.
Additionally, adverse events were reported in 80%, 74%, 71%, 67%, and 65% of patients, respectively.
Click to continue reading on Specialty Pharmacy Times.
