Article Archive

Bococizumab

March 30, 2014 1183 – Prevention: Familial Hypercholesterolemia, Novel Therapies and CV Risk Efficacy and Safety of Bococizumab (RN316/PF-04950615), a Monoclonal Antibody against Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 in Statin-Treated Hypercholesterolemic Subjects: Results from a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Dose-Ranging Study (NCT: 01592240) Session 1183-129, 9:45 -…

Evolocumab

ACC 2014 March 29th  MENDEL-2: http://www.pcsk9forum.org/mendel-2-2/ DESCARTES: http://www.pcsk9forum.org/descartes-durable-ldl-c-lowering-with-evolocumab/ RUTHERFORD-2: http://www.pcsk9forum.org/acc-2014-rutherford-2-evolocumab-in-heterozygous-fh/ LAPLACE-2: http://www.pcsk9forum.org/acc-2014-latebreaker-laplace-2-evolocumb-effective-in-patients-on-high-and-moderate-intensity-statins/ GAUSS-2: http://www.pcsk9forum.org/acc-2014-latebreaker-gauss-2-evolocumab-addresses-unmet-needs-in-statin-intolerance/  

Alirocumab

A 24-Week Study of Alirocumab as Monotherapy versus Ezetimibe: The First Phase 3 Data of a Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 Inhibitor One Year Open-Label Treatment with Alirocumab 150 mg Every Two Weeks in Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemic Patients Effects of Alirocumab, a Fully Human Monoclonal…

Updates from the literature

Norsworthy PJ, Vandrovcova J, Thomas ER, Campbell A, Kerr SM, Biggs J, Game L, Soutar AK, Smith BH, Dominiczak AF, Porteous DJ, Morris AD, Scotland G, Aitman TJ: Targeted genetic testing for familial hypercholesterolaemia using next generation sequencing: a population-based study. BMC.Med.Genet. 2014, 15:70. Abstract:…

Low PCSK9 levels in CKD patients on haemodialysis

Serum PCSK9 levels are decreased in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing haemodialysis, thereby implying that PCSK9 plays a similar important role in regulating low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in these patients, as in the general population. Abujrad H, Mayne J, Ruzicka M, Cousins…

Lipoprotein apheresis lowers plasma PCSK9

Lipoprotein apheresis is clearly important in the management of severe familial hyperchoelsterolaemia (FH). However, its use is not without practical and cost limitations. Evidence that lipoprotein apheresis has an additional benefit in lowering plasma PCSK9 levels, beyond effects on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), suggests that…

Will PCSK9 monoclonal antibody therapy replace other classes of drug currently used in combination therapy both in FH and non-FH indications?

Frederick J. Raal FRCP, FRCPC, FCP(SA), Cert Endo, MMED, PhD Professor and Head, Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism Director, Carbohydrate and Lipid Metabolism Research Unit University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa Elevated LDL-cholesterol(LDL-C) is considered to be the pivotal causative factor for atherosclerosis and LDL-C…

For which patients would you expect the PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies to be most useful?

Michel Farnier MD PhD Point Medical, Dijon, France Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) plays a key role in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) metabolism, mainly by enhancing degradation of LDL receptors in the liver. PCSK9 is a secreted protein and acts by reducing the amount…

CVD Prevention

2021: ESC Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34458905/ 2019: ACC/AHA Guideline on the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30894318/ 2013: ACC/AHA Lifestyle management to prevent CVD…

FH

2021: Integrated Guidance for Enhancing the Care of Familial Hypercholesterolaemia in Australia https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33309206/ 2021: Update of the Brazilian Guideline for Familial Hypercholesterolemia https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34709306/ 2019: NICE. Familial hypercholesterolaemia: identification and management https://www.guidelines.co.uk/genetic-conditions/nice-fh-guideline/453843.article 2018: Canadian Cardiovascular Society Position Statement on Familial Hypercholesterolemia: Update 2018 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30527143/ 2017: Guidelines…

Dyslipidaemia management

2021: Lipid Measurements in the Management of Cardiovascular Diseases: NLA Scientific Statement https://www.lipid.org/sites/default/files/files/JACL%201734(3).pdf 2021: Canadian Cardiovascular Society Guidelines for the Management of Dyslipidemia for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Adults. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33781847/ 2021: Lipid-lowering and anti-thrombotic therapy in patients with peripheral arterial disease—European Atherosclerosis Society/European…

Does PCSK9 inhibition on top of statin therapy offer the possibility of further reducing plaque burden?

Stephen J Nicholls MBBS PhD South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Australia Technical advances in arterial wall imaging have enabled the visualization of the full burden of atherosclerotic plaque. When applied in serial imaging studies of anatomically matched arterial segments, it…

PCSK9 and plaque: trials

Recent trials have shown that the PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies lower LDL cholesterol by more than 50% on top of statin therapy. There is also evidence that serum PCSK9 is associated with carotid intima-media thickness, a surrogate for atherosclerosis. Lee CJ, Lee YH, Park SW et…

Statins and plaque burden

The clinical benefit of LDL cholesterol lowering with statins has been conclusively demonstrated with a wealth of experience from primary and secondary prevention clinical trials.1,2 In addition, imaging studies have shown that statins have a favourable effect on atherosclerosis progression, either stabilising or even decreasing…

PCSK9: From discovery to therapeutic applications

PUBMED abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24373748

How low should LDL cholesterol be lowered – and for how long?

In your opinion, what are the optimum patient populations for PCSK9 monoclonal antibody therapy?

PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies offer very important new treatments to lowed low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in patients who cannot tolerate statins or whose LDL-C is inadequately reduced as well as those people with high LDL-C caused by Familial Hypercholesterolemia.

What does PCSK9 monoclonal antibody therapy offer to reduce residual CV risk?

Anthony S. Wierzbicki DM, DPhil, FRCPath Consultant, Department of Metabolic Medicine/Chemical Pathology Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospitals St Thomas’ Hospital, London UK E-mail: [email protected] Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the greatest cause of world morbidity and mortality. Rates of CVD have decreased in parallel with reductions…

Why we need new approaches

Undoubtedly, LDL cholesterol is the priority target for intervention to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), as reaffirmed by the recent ACC/AHA guidelines for cholesterol management.1 Statins are at the cornerstone of lipid-modifying therapy. However, as recommended targets for LDL cholesterol have fallen as…

Lp(a) and FH

Certain conditions, notably familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH), are associated with increased Lp(a) levels. The mechanism of this is so far undefined and may not directly involve the LDL receptor pathway. Holmes DT, Schick BA, Humphries KH, Frohlich J. Lipoprotein(a) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular…