Patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia benefit from PCSK9-antibody

Background

Only approximately 20% of patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) reach their LDL-C goal of ≤100 mg/dL when treated with statins, ezetimibe, and/or bile acid sequestrants [1,2]. On the other hand, the PCSK9 inhibitor alirocumab resulted in significant LDL-C reductions, both as monotherapy and in combination with statin therapy, in a variety of patient populations in the phase III ODYSSEY program [3-5].

In this analysis of four 78-week placebo-controlled ODYSSEY studies (FH I, FH II, long term and high FH), the LDL-C-lowering efficacy and safety of alirocumab Q2W were evaluated in 1257 HeFH patients on maximally tolerated dose of statins and other lipid-lowering therapies. Patients of the FH I and FH II trials received 75 mg Q2W or 150 mg Q2W and at week 12, some patients increased their dose from 75 to 150 mg Q2W if LDL-c was still ≥70 mg/dL at week 8. Patients of the long term and high FH received 150 mg Q2W from the start.

Main results

• At week 12, before any dose increase, the mean percent change in LDL-C from baseline was -43.6% for patients on alirocumab 75 mg Q2W and -57.1% for those on 150 mg Q2W (placebo: 15.4% and 11.1%, respectively; all P < 0.0001 vs placebo).
• At week 12, 41.8% of patients on alirocumab 75 mg had their dose increased to 150 mg (75/150 mg) in a blinded manner.
• The mean percent change in LDL-C from baseline to week 24 was -48.8% for patients on alirocumab 75/150 mg (placebo: 17.1%) and -55.0% for those on alirocumab 150 mg Q2W (placebo: 11.3%; all P < 0.0001).
• The on-treatment least squares (LS) mean LDL-C levels were reduced to 69.1 and 75.6 mg/dL at week 24 in the alirocumab 75/150 mg and 150 mg groups, respectively. For weeks 24 to 78, LS mean LDL-C levels were 69.1-75.6 mg/dL (75/150 mg group) and 72.2-82.3 mg/dL (150 mg group).
• At week 24, most patients receiving alirocumab 75/150 mg (75.3%) or 150 mg (64.5%) achieved LDL-C levels of <70 or <100 mg/dL, depending on their CV risk (all P < 0.0001 vs placebo).
• Alirocumab 75/150 mg or 150 mg significantly reduced Apo B, non–HDL-C, total cholesterol, Lp(a), and fasting triglycerides levels vs placebo (all P < 0.0001), and significantly increased the HDL-C and Apo A1 levels vs placebo.
• In a multivariate analysis of two studies, the difference between LDL-C levels at baseline and the treatment goal, was the best predictor for the necessary dose adjustment from 75 mg to 150 mg at week 12 (P < 0.0001). Other predictors included a higher BMI and not taking other lipid-lowering treatments except statins.
• The rates of treatment-emergent adverse events were similar in alirocumab (80.5%) and placebo-treated patients (83.0%).

Conclusion

References

Find this article online at J Clin Lipidol