Videos
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.
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Overlap between HoFH and severe FH and implications for evolocumab
The implications of the overlap between homozygous hypercholesterolaemia and severe familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) – two genetic disorders characterised by very high levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) – should be considered when selecting treatment. Professor Frederick Raal discusses the issue.
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Why is it critical to target children with FH?
Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is the most common genetic disorder in the world. People with FH have high levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) resulting in a high risk of premature and sudden death. Now early diagnosis and treatment can save lives, says Dr Albert…
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Does PCSK9 have effects beyond the liver and if so, what is the evidence?
Laboratory research conducted in France shows that PCSK9 may have effects beyond its primary action in the liver, where its inhibition significantly lowers low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). These studies also provide reassuring data about the probable safety of these new therapies, Professor Bertrand Cariou…
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Professor Gerald Watts discusses the 10 countries project in FH
The International Atherosclerosis Society has begun a study in Asia and the Pacific Rim to provide the first comprehensive investigation of the worlds commonest genetic disorder, familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) in the region. FH results in very high levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and…
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What are the current unmet needs?
Despite statins, there are significantly unmet clinical needs in cholesterol lowering treatment. Statin do not effectively treat more than 50% of people with Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) and other patients have intolerable side effects, says Professor Erik Stroes.
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PCSK9 and Lp(a), a novel approach to a re-emergent cardiovascular risk factor
New disclosures show that inhibition of PCSK9 reduces Lp(a) cholesterol – an emerging risk factor for cardiovascular disease, according to US expert, Professor Henry Ginsberg.
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Implications from TESLA for FH management
The investigational PCSK9 inhibitor evolocumab, promises to be an important new treatment for a rare but serious genetic disorder, homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia, according to one of the investigators in the TESLA study, Professor Frederick Raal.
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Do the PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies have neurocognitive effects
There is reassuring evidence of the neurocognitive safety of the monoclonal antibodies developed to reduce low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) by targeting PCSK9, Professor Frederick Raal discusses this topic.
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Unmet needs in children with FH
Identification and treatment to reduce low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) of children with familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is vital to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death in early adulthood. FH is the most common genetic disorder in the world. Parents and healthcare professionals need to be…
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ODYSSEY long term
Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was reduced by 60% in patients treated an investigational PCSK9 inhibitor, Alirocumab in addition to statin therapy, for about 52 weeks in the ODYSSEY study. The lead investigator, Professor Jennifer Robinson discusses how this was translated into a reduction in…
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Improving the management of the FH patient
Professor Raul Santos from Brazil says that the new therapies which inhibit PCSK9 to significantly reduce low density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C) when given in addition to other cholesterol lowering drugs offer a very important advance in reducing cardiovascular risk in people with Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH).
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Familial hypercholesterolaemia: putting the patient first
Patients and their families must be proactively involved in the identification and treatment of people with familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) – a group whose severely raised low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) puts them at a very high risk of premature death. Founder and CEO of the…
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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.
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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.
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Weighing the cost versus benefit of PCSK9-targeted therapy
PCSK9 inhibitors are the most important advance in cholesterol lowering treatments since the discovery of statin drugs, says Spanish vascular disease researcher, Professor Lluís Masana.
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High cholesterol: an unmet need
Health authorities are failing to recognise that most patients do not achieve the cholesterol levels needed to prevent cardiovascular disease. Professor Lluís Masana says this must become a public health priority.
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The role of PCSK9 inhibitors in FH
The low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering effects of evolocumab, a new PCSK9 inhibitor, in patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) are very encouraging, Dr Dirk Blom, University of Cape Town says. This will be very important in countries such as South Africa.
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Lowering LDL-C: How low and for how long?
Treatment to reduce low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) should be started in teenage years in people with very high risk of cardiovascular death or events e.g. heart attacks. There is substantial evidence showing significant benefits if LDL-C is reduced by about 50%, Professor Evan Stein…
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Looking ahead with PCSK9 Education & Research Forum
Researchers and clinicians are enthusiastically expanding their knowledge of important new discoveries in cholesterol lowering therapies with PCSK9 inhibitors. Co-editor, Professor Henry Ginsberg, looks to the future.
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