PCSK9 Inhibitors and Ezetimibe Monotherapy in Patients Not Receiving Statins: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Benhuri ◽  
Hiroki Ueyama ◽  
Hisato Takagi ◽  
Alexandros Briasoulis ◽  
Toshiki Kuno
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Trials ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trials ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Low Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol ◽  
Pcsk9 Inhibitors

Background: Statins are the mainstay of treatment for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering, however, some patients cannot tolerate statins because of adverse effects. Ezetimibe and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors (PCSK9i) are alternative treatment options. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to compare LDL-C reduction with ezetimibe vs PCSK9i in patients not on statins. Methods: PubMed and EMBASE were searched until 14 March 2020 for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) assessing the efficacy of ezetimibe vs PCSK9i in patients not on statins. The primary outcome was reduction in LDL-C levels. A subgroup analysis of statin intolerant patients was also performed. Results: We identified 8 RCTs that enrolled a total of 1602 patients comparing the two pharmacotherapies. PCSK9i lowered LDL-C levels significantly more than ezetimibe (mean difference (MD): -36.5; 95% confidence interval (CI) [-38.3, -34.7, p<0.00001, I2=4%]. In the statin intolerant subgroup, PCSK9i showed significantly greater reduction in LDL-C levels compared with ezetimibe (MD: -36.1; 95% CI [-39.2, -33.1, p<0.00001, I2=21%]. There were no significant differences in LDL-C reduction between different PCSK9i dosages (140 mg once every 2 weeks vs 420 mg once every 4 weeks) (MD: - 1.87; 95% CI [-4.45, 0.71, p<0.16, I2=0]. Conclusions: Among patients who are statin intolerant or not receiving statins, PCSK9i use is associated with significantly lower LDL-C levels than after treatment with ezetimibe. PCSK9i might be useful in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in this subset of patients.

PCSK9 in cholesterol metabolism: from bench to bedside

2018 ◽  
Vol 132 (11) ◽  
pp. 1135-1153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison B. Reiss ◽  
Neal Shah ◽  
Dalia Muhieddine ◽  
Juan Zhen ◽  
Jennifer Yudkevich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Cholesterol Metabolism ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Low Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Regulatory Protein ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Pcsk9 Inhibitors ◽  
Adequate Treatment ◽  
First Line Therapy

Dyslipidemia, and specifically elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, is one of the most important cardiovascular risk factors. Statins are considered first line therapy for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. However, statins may not be adequate treatment for elevated circulating LDL levels and are ineffective in certain familial hypercholesterolemias. The discovery of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), a regulatory protein that affects LDL receptors, offers a new alternative for these patients. Moreover, gain-of-function PCSK9 mutations were discovered to be the root cause of familial autosomal dominant hypercholesterolemia. Inhibition of PSCK9 reduces plasma LDL levels, even in patients for whom statins are ineffective or not tolerated. Alirocumab and evolocumab, human monoclonal antibodies that inhibit PCSK9, have been approved to lower LDL levels. While there are drawbacks to these treatments, including adverse events, administration by subcutaneous injection, and high cost, these drugs are indicated for the treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and familial hypercholesterolemia as adjunct to diet and maximally tolerated statin therapy. PCSK9 inhibitors may work synergistically with statins to lower LDL. Novel approaches to PCSK9 inhibition are currently in development with the aim of providing safe and effective treatment options to decrease cardiovascular event burden, ideally at lower cost and with oral bioavailability.

scholarly journals Emerging Non-statin Treatment Options for Lowering Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chandni Bardolia ◽  
Nishita Shah Amin ◽  
Jacques Turgeon
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Adverse Drug Events ◽  
Low Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Lipoprotein Cholesterol ◽  
Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Low Density ◽  
Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol ◽  
Pcsk9 Inhibitors

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is a modifiable risk factor for the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Statins have been the gold standard for managing cholesterol levels and reducing the risks associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease; however, many patients do not achieve their cholesterol goals or are unable to tolerate this drug class due to adverse drug events. Recent studies of non-statin cholesterol lowering drugs (i.e., ezetimibe, PCSK9 inhibitors) have demonstrated cardiovascular benefits; and new drugs [i.e., bempedoic acid (BDA), inclisiran] have produced promising results in pre-clinical and clinical outcome trials. This narrative review aims to discuss the place in therapy of ezetimibe, PCSK9 inhibitors, BDA, and inclisiran and describe their relative pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles, efficacy and safety as monotherapy and combination therapy, and cardiovascular benefit(s) when used for hypercholesterolemia.

Clinical implications and outcomes of the ORION Phase III trials

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Brandts ◽  
Kausik K Ray
Keyword(s):  
Familial Hypercholesterolemia ◽  
Low Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol ◽  
Clinical Safety ◽  
Phase Iii Trials ◽  
Phase Ii And Iii ◽  
Ongoing Phase

Inclisiran is a siRNA inhibiting hepatic PCSK9 synthesis. As a first-in-class therapy, inclisiran has been assessed within the ORION trial program for its low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering efficacy and clinical safety. Phase II and III trials have shown that inclisiran lowers LDL-C by about 50% with an infrequent dosing schedule in patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and those at high risk, including patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. Ongoing Phase III trials will provide evidence on longer-term safety and effectiveness, and inclisiran’s efficacy in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. Furthermore, the ORION-4 trial will assess inclisiran’s impact on cardiovascular outcomes.

scholarly journals Impact of Adoption of Directly Measured Low-Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol (LDL-C) on Targets of Lipid Control and Its Comparison With Friedewald Formula-Calculated LDL Cholesterol in People With Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus

2020 ◽  
pp. 263246362097804
Author(s):  
Rejitha Jagesh ◽  
Mathew John ◽  
Manju Manoharan Nair Jalaja ◽  
Tittu Oommen ◽  
Deepa Gopinath
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Low Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Lipoprotein Cholesterol ◽  
Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Low Density ◽  
Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol ◽  
Friedewald Formula

Objectives: The accurate and precise measurement of low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) is important in the assessment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk (ASCVD) in people with diabetes mellitus. This study aimed at comparing directly measured LDL-C with Friedewald formula (FF)-calculated LDL-C (c-LDL-C) in people with type-2 diabetes. Methods: Fasting lipid profiles of 1905 people with type-2 diabetes, whose LDL-C was estimated by direct LDL assay, were chosen for the study. In the same group, LDL-C was calculated with FF. Correlation and agreement between these methods were analyzed at various strata of triglycerides (TGs). The possibility of misclassifying people at various levels of LDL-C targets proposed in literature was calculated. Results: The mean LDL-C levels were lower in the c-LDL-C group across various TG strata. A significant correlation was found between c-LDL-C and direct LDL-C for all the study samples ( r = 0.948, P < .001) and across all TG strata. Analysis of agreement showed a positive bias for direct LDL-C which increased at higher strata of TGs. c-LDL-C underestimated ASCVD by misclassifying people at various LDL-C target levels. Conclusion: There is a difference between direct LDL-C and c-LDL-C values in people with diabetes and this may result in misclassifying ASCVD especially at lower levels of LDL-C and higher levels of TGs.

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goal attainment and treatment patterns in a cohort of >143,000 patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in Ontario, Canada

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Fairbairn ◽  
P Oh ◽  
R Goeree ◽  
R.M Rogoza ◽  
M Packalen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Goal Attainment ◽  
Low Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Data Repository ◽  
Funding Source ◽  
Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Low Density ◽  
Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol

Abstract Background/Introduction Limited real-world data are available on attainment of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) treatment goals in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in Canada. Purpose A retrospective observational study was conducted to describe types of ASCVD events/procedures, time between events and use of lipid lowering treatment (LLT) in patients who did not achieve LDL-C goal. Methods Patients in Ontario ≥65 years with a primary ASCVD event/procedure between 1 Apr 2005 and 31 Mar 2016, treated with an LLT and with index and follow up LDL-C values were identified from claims data at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences data repository. Patients were assessed over a 1-year follow up period for LDL-C goal attainment (&lt;2.0 mmol/L or 50% reduction from index LDL-C) and analysed by LLT and by index event type. Results Overall, 28% of 143,302 patients ≥65 years on LLT failed to attain LDL-C goal at follow up (Figure). The proportion of patients failing to achieve LDL-C goal decreased from 35% to 22% over the 11-year study period. Mean time between index and follow up LDL-C (based on lowest score &gt;2 weeks and up to 1 year after index LDL-C) was 203±97 days. When analysed by low-, moderate- or high-intensity statin, 57%, 30%, and 22% of patients failed to achieve LDL-C goal at follow up, respectively. Conclusions In this study, more than 1 in 4 patients with ASCVD in Ontario failed to achieve guideline recommended LDL-C goal despite treatment. In particular, ∼1 in 3 patients with cerebral and peripheral arterial disease were not at goal. An opportunity exists to better manage these high risk ASCVD patients with further statin intensification and additional LLTs This study made use of de-identified data from the ICES Data Repository, which is managed by the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences with support from its funders and partners: Canada's Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR), the Ontario SPOR Support Unit, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Government of Ontario. The opinions, results and conclusions reported are those of the authors. No endorsement by ICES or any of its funders or partners is intended or should be inferred. Parts of this material are based on data and/or information compiled and provided by CIHI. However, the analyses, conclusions, opinions and statements expressed in the material are those of the author(s), and not necessarily those of CIHI Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Private company. Main funding source(s): Amgen Canada Inc.

Eligibility for PCSK9 inhibitors based on the 2019 ESC/EAS and 2018 ACC/AHA guidelines

2020 ◽  
pp. 204748732094010
Author(s):  
Konstantinos C Koskinas ◽  
Baris Gencer ◽  
David Nanchen ◽  
Mattia Branca ◽  
David Carballo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Low Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Lipoprotein Cholesterol ◽  
Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Low Density ◽  
Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol ◽  
Coronary Syndrome ◽  
Coronary Syndromes

Aims The 2018 American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) and 2019 European Society of Cardiology (ESC)/European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) lipid guidelines recently updated their recommendations regarding proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin-9 inhibitors (PCSK9i). We assessed the potential eligibility for PCSK9i according to the new guidelines in patients with acute coronary syndromes. Methods and results We analysed a contemporary, prospective Swiss cohort of patients hospitalised for acute coronary syndromes. We modelled a statin intensification effect and an incremental ezetimibe effect on low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels among patients who were not on high-intensity statins or ezetimibe. One year after the index acute coronary syndrome event, treatment eligibility for PCSK9i was defined as low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol of 1.4 mmol/l or greater according to ESC/EAS guidelines. For ACC/AHA guidelines, treatment eligibility was defined as low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol of 1.8 mmol/l or greater in the presence of very high-risk atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, defined by multiple major atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events and/or high-risk conditions. Of 2521 patients, 93.2% were treated with statins (53% high-intensity statins) and 7.3% with ezetimibe at 1 year, and 54.9% had very high-risk atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels less than 1.8 mmol/l and less than 1.4 mmol/l at 1 year were observed in 37.5% and 15.7% of patients, respectively. After modelling the statin intensification and ezetimibe effects, these numbers increased to 76.1% and 49%, respectively. The proportion of patients eligible for PCSK9i was 51% according to ESC/EAS criteria versus 14% according to ACC/AHA criteria. Conclusions In this analysis, the 2019 ESC/EAS guidelines rendered half of all post-acute coronary syndrome patients potentially eligible for PCSK9i treatment, as compared to a three-fold lower eligibility rate based on the 2018 ACC/AHA guidelines.

scholarly journals Treatment Options for Hypercholesterolemia and Combined Dyslipidemia: Focus on Pitavastatin

2011 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. CMT.S6565
Author(s):  
Yasushi Saito
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Events ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Low Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Lipoprotein Cholesterol ◽  
Multidrug Therapy ◽  
Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol ◽  
Coronary Syndrome ◽  
Sustained Action ◽  
Plaque Regression

Pitavastatin is one of the most effective treatment agents for lowering serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. Because pitavastatin is scarcely metabolized, the risk of drug-drug interactions during multidrug therapy is low, and the LDL-C target is achieved in the majority of patients. The incidence of adverse events associated with pitavastatin treatment has so far been comparable to or lower than that associated with other statins, and glucose metabolism is not affected by the drug. Pitavastatin promotes plaque regression and improves the plaque composition in patients with acute coronary syndrome. The serum level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) during treatment with pitavastatin was demonstrated to be inversely associated with the incidence of cardiovascular events. Because of its effective and sustained action to increase HDL-C, pitavastatin is expected to contribute to the prevention of cardiovascular events, in addition to its potent LDL-C lowering effect, especially in patients with low serum HDL-C levels.

scholarly journals Focus on… Praluent®

2020 ◽  
pp. 175-178
Author(s):  
L Steyn
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
High Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Low Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Pivotal Role ◽  
Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Very Low Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Low Density ◽  
Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol ◽  
Lipoprotein Receptors

Cholesterol plays a pivotal role in the functioning of healthy cells. Being mostly lipophilic, cholesterol is transported in the blood inside lipophilic particles, e.g. high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). Hypercholesterolaemia refers to elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, and increases the risk for premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Low-density lipoprotein receptors (LDL-R) on the surface of hepatocytes, are the primary receptors involved in clearing circulating LDL-C.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document