News

European Atherosclerosis Society Consensus Panel on statin-associated muscle symptoms: Professor Erik Stroes, Academic Medical Center, the Netherlands

PCSK9 Forum caught up with Professor Stroes at the 83rd Congress of the European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS), Glasgow 22-25 March, 2015 to discuss this recent EAS Consensus Panel paper. Statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS) were very much the hot topic at EAS Glasgow, reflecting the high…

Statins and muscle symptoms: New EAS Consensus Panel statement

The European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) Consensus Panel has published new guidance on the diagnosis, assessment and treatment of statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS). Unique to this statement is an overview of current understanding of the pathophysiology of statin myopathy. Without doubt, statins are the therapeutic cornerstone…

EAS Glasgow: Familial hypercholesterolaemia: A Call to Action from the European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS)

Worldwide less than 1% of patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) – inherited high cholesterol – are diagnosed and only a minority are optimally treated.1 This is despite recent research showing that FH is not rare but among the most common of autosomal dominant inherited conditions;…

Do we need to re-consider cholesterol treatment in primary prevention?

High cholesterol is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease (CHD). However, many individuals with only mild to moderately elevated high cholesterol do not meet guideline criteria for treatment with statins. This poses a key question: Does prolonged exposure to only mild…

Body weight does not strongly influence PCSK9 levels

Targeting LDL: Is lower better and is it safe?

Professors Evan Stein and Derick Raal discuss this hot topic in this latest review

ODYSSEY MONO shows alirocumab 75 mg every 2 weeks is effective for LDL-C and PCSK9 lowering

There is consistent evidence that plasma PCSK9 levels correlate with LDL-C levels.1 This report from the ODYSSEY Mono study investigated the relationship between LDL-C, free PCSK9 and alirocumab serum concentrations. About ODYSSEY Mono ODYSSEY MONO is a Phase III randomised, double-blind study comparing the efficacy…

Lowering LDL-C : at what level would this impact the benefit vs. risk ratio?

Emeritus Research Professor, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), Canada Potent inhibitors of pro-protein convertase-subtilisin-kexin-9 (PCSK9) have the capacity to reduce plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) to unprecedentedly low levels, especially if combined with statins. This discovery raises several important questions; how low should…

ACC 2015 Do the evolocumab 2-weekly and monthly regimens provide equivalent LDL-C lowering?

One of the questions clinicians often raise if whether the two dose regimens for evolocumab produce similar low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol lowering. This study answers this question showing clinical equivalence for changes in lipid parameters, including low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, apolipoprotein B and lipoprotein(a). Data…

Peptide-based anti-PCSK9 vaccines around the corner?

Monoclonal antibody therapy to PCSK9 has been first off the block for PCSK9 therapeutics. Extensive clinical trial evidence has shown that these agents are effective, consistently lowering LDL cholesterol by 50-60%, alone or in combination with statin therapy, with no adverse signal to date. However,…

Highlights Report: 2014 FH Global Summit

The FH Global Summit offers a unique opportunity for all players in the healthcare arena, academia, government and patient advocacy groups, to act together to catalyse progress in FH care. Sooner not later: Children are the driver for improving FH care Top of the agenda…

PCSK9 inhibition

A raised level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Despite success in recent decades in lowering LDL-C with statins and other lipid-lowering drugs, considerable risk remains for future cardiovascular events even in people who are…

Do PCSK9 loss of function mutations have direct effects on atherogenesis?

Identification of PCSK9 loss of function (LOF) mutations has been a key driver for the development of PCSK9-targeted therapies. LOF mutations in the PCSK9 gene lead to an increase in the number of LDL receptors on the surface of liver cells, resulting in an increase…

Implications from TESLA and early TAUSSIG studies with evolocumab

Results of clinical trials of the investigational therapy – evolocumab, a PCSK9 inhibitor will potentially change care of patients at a high risk of cardiovascular disease (heart attacks), by reducing their very high low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. The Forum talks to Professor Gerald…

ACC 2014: Bococizumab: Phase II data in statin-treated patients with hypercholesterolaemia

Bococizumab (RN316/PF-04950615) is a novel humanised PCSK9 monoclonal antibody. This 24-week, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated LDL-C lowering effects of bococizumab, administered every 2 weeks or monthly (i.e. 4 weeks) in statin-treated patients aged ≥18 yrs with hypercholesterolaemia (LDL-C ≥80 mg/dL or 2.1 mmol/L)….

ACC 2014 Latebreaker: GAUSS-2: Evolocumab addresses unmet needs in statin intolerance

Muscle-related symptoms (often referred to as myopathy or myalgia) are the main side effect consistently associated with statins, affecting about 5-10% of patients in clinical trials, but up to 20% of patients in the real-world clinical setting. Statin intolerance due to muscle symptoms is the…

Rationale for TESLA and results

Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) can be significantly reduced in patients with a serious genetic disorder – homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) – when a PCSK9 inhibitor evolocumab is added to statins and other lipid-lowering medications. Professor Frederick Raal explains the results of the TESLA study.

Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH)

Why is cholesterol important? Cholesterol, with other fats such as triglycerides, plays a vital role in the structure and function of cells. However, too much cholesterol in the blood (hypercholesterolaemia) is a risk factor for early heart disease, heart attack and stroke. Cholesterol is transported…

Future prospects for improved dyslipidaemia management

FH issues in low to middle income regions

Despite the availability of statins, treatment of familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is a significant issue with a high unmet need in a middle-income country, according to Dr Dirk Blom of Cape Town, South Africa. As a result, new novel therapies are urgently needed.