Those receiving bempedoic acid had greater reduction in LDL cholesterol and significantly lower incidence of composite of major adverse cardiovascular events<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter<\/b><\/p>\n
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MONDAY, March 6, 2023 (HealthDay News) — Treatment with bempedoic acid is associated with a lower risk for major adverse cardiovascular events among statin-intolerant patients, according to a study published online March 4 in the New England Journal of Medicine<\/em> to coincide with the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology, held from March 4 to 6 in New Orleans.<\/p>\n Steven E. Nissen, M.D., from the Cleveland Clinic, and colleagues conducted a double-blind randomized trial involving patients with or at high risk for cardiovascular disease who were unable or unwilling to take statins owing to unacceptable adverse effects. A total of 13,970 patients were randomly assigned to either bempedoic acid (6,992 participants) or placebo (6,978 participants). Patients were followed for a median of 40.6 months.<\/p>\n The mean low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level was 139.0 mg\/dL in both groups at baseline. The researchers found that the reduction in the level of LDL cholesterol was greater with bempedoic acid than placebo by 29.2 mg\/dL after six months, with a 21.1 percent reduction in favor of bempedoic acid. The incidence of a primary end point event (four-component composite of major adverse cardiovascular events) was significantly lower with bempedoic acid versus placebo (11.7 versus 13.3 percent; hazard ratio, 0.87), as were the incidences of a composite of death from cardiovascular causes, nonfatal stroke, or nonfatal myocardial infarction; fatal or nonfatal myocardial infarction; and coronary revascularization (hazard ratios, 0.85, 0.77, and 0.81, respectively).<\/p>\n “The observed lower incidence of cardiovascular events suggests that bempedoic acid is among the medications that lower the LDL cholesterol level and have clinically meaningful cardiovascular benefits,” the authors write.<\/p>\n Several authors disclosed financial ties to biopharmaceutical companies, including Esperion Therapeutics, which manufactures bempedoic acid and funded the study.<\/p>\n Abstract\/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n Editorial 1 (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n Editorial 2 (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n