AHA Scientific Sessions 2015
Looking back at AHA Scientific Sessions 2015: What made the news?
PCSK9 Forum roving reporter, Dr Peter Lansberg, Department of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, gave his views on the news in PCSK9 science and therapeutics at AHA Scientific Sessions this year. There was both consolidation of efficacy and safety data for…
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Benefit of PCSK9 inhibitors in primary hypercholesterolaemia
This meta-analysis including more than 13,000 patients showed that PCSK9 inhibitors result in superior lipid lowering compared with ezetimibe in patients with primary hypercholesterolaemia, and this is likely to translate to improved clinical outcomes. This study evaluated summarized information comparing the impact of PCSK9 inhibitors…
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Alirocumab: no impact on glycaemic control
The majority of high cardiovascular risk patients are already on statins (with or without other lipid modifying therapy). Given the small risk of incident diabetes associated with statin therapy (1), a key question is whether PCSK9 inhibition exacerbates this risk. However, pooled analyses of more…
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ALN-PCSsc data suggest 6-month dosing
There was more news from the Phase I trial of ALN-PCSsc, an investigational RNAi therapeutic targeting PCSK9, presented at the last Latebreaker Clinical Trials session. Following initial results, presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress, London, data reported at the American Heart Association Scientific…
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PCSK9 gain-of-function variants associated with higher triglycerides
The role of PCSK9 in regulating LDL receptor levels is well established. However, this study also adds to evidence implicating PCSK9 in control of very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) metabolism. In this study, 940 clinically diagnosed familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) heterozygotes were investigated for carriage of the…
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No link between low LDL-C and dementia
Results from this Mendelian randomisation study do not show any association between exposure to low LDL cholesterol levels and risk of dementia. The study used a number of genetic variants known to be involved with LDL cholesterol synthesis and metabolism: hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR); rs17238484, and…
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Evolocumab: Higher doses, less variability in LDL response
The approval of the PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies offers a novel approach to addressing unmet clinical needs in high cardiovascular risk patients. However, because evolocumab is offered as either 2-weekly or monthly dose regimens further information is needed so clinicians can make the right decision regarding…
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Hope for a small molecule PCSK9 inhibitor?
Current developments aimed at targeting PCSK9 have predominantly focused on monoclonal antibody therapies, or latterly on inhibiting synthesis of this protein with RNA interference approaches. However, is there a possibility for a small molecule antagonist of PCSK9? Results from this experimental study suggests potential in…
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ODYSSEY trials analysis: Alirocumab 75 mg 2-weekly adequate in most patients
One question from the phase III trials with the PCSK9 monoclonal antibody alirocumab is how many high cardiovascular risk patients require uptitration. Results from an analysis of more than 1200 patients included in 6 Phase III trials from the ODYSSEY programme show that most attained…
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Benefit of alirocumab in moderate chronic kidney disease
Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) represent an important high cardiovascular risk group, especially in view of evidence that the prevalence of this condition is increasing rapidly world-wide. Statins with minimal renal excretion are the treatment of choice for management of the associated dyslipidaemia; however,…
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