This course consists of the following lectures::

• Introduction - Prof. Philip Barter, MD - University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
• PCSK9 as target for treatment: The genetic validation - Prof. Brian Ference, MD - University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
• Novel PCSK9 outcomes in perspective: Lessons from FOURIER & ODYSSEY - Prof. Jennifer Robinson, MD - Iowa city, Iowa, USA
• Targeting PCSK9 in clinical practice: Guidance & future - John Kastelein, MD – Amsterdam University Medical Centers, The Netherlands

Educational objectives of this course are to:

• Understand the unmet need for additional LDL-C-lowering therapies beyond current optimal statin-based therapy as a strategy for addressing lipid-related CV risk in patients at increased CV risk and with FH
• Understand the mechanisms and potential applications of emerging therapies to lower LDL through novel approaches that can be used in combination with statin therapy
• Describe the potential impact of PCSK9-based therapies in development in patients who require additional LDL-C reduction
• Explore treatment options in a statin-intolerant high risk patient in order to reach LDL-C goal
• Compare and evaluate evidence from recent clinical trials of novel agents in clinical development and assess their impact on lipids and cardiovascular risk
• Assess the implications of new therapies for future lipid management

Expert faculty

• Prof. Philip Barter - Professor of Medicine of the University of Sydney, Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. His basic research interests are plasma lipids and lipoproteins, specifically high density lipoproteins, the factors that regulate them and the mechanism by which they protect against cardiovascular disease.
• Prof. Brian A. Ference - Professor and Director of Research in Translational Therapeutics, and Head of the Centre for Naturally Randomized Trials at the University of Cambridge, UK; and Benjamin Meaker Visiting Professor in Cardiovascular Medicine in the Institute for Advanced Studies at the University of Bristol, UK.
• Prof. Jennifer Robinson - Professor in the Departments of Epidemiology and Medicine (Division of Cardiology), and Director of the Prevention Intervention Center at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
• Prof. John J.P. Kastelein - Professor of Medicine at the Department of Vascular Medicine at the Amsterdam University Medical Centers, location Academic Medical Center (AMC) of the University of Amsterdam, where he holds the Strategic Chair of Genetics of Cardiovascular Disease.

Target audience

This educational activity is designed for cardiologists in secondary care and other healthcare professionals with an interest in treating patients with cardiovascular disease.

CME accreditation

This online course is accredited by the European Board for Accreditation in Cardiology (EBAC) for 1 hour of external CME credit(s).

Funding

Supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Amgen and Sanofi-Regeneron.