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Background and Aims: Elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels are considered a causal factor for cardiovascular disease. In phase 3 ODYSSEY trials, alirocumab reduced levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and Lp(a), with concomitant reductions in the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). We assessed whether lower on-study and greater percentage reductions in Lp(a) are associated with a lower risk of MACE., Methods: Post-hoc analysis of data pooled from 10 phase 3 ODYSSEY trials comparing alirocumab with control (placebo or ezetimibe) in patients (n = 4983) with cardiovascular disease and/or risk factors, and hypercholesterolemia despite statin/other lipid-lowering therapies., Results: Median (Q1, Q3) baseline Lp(a) levels were 23.5 (8.0, 67.0) mg/dL. Median Lp(a) changes from baseline with alirocumab were -25.6% vs. -2.5% with placebo (absolute reductions 6.8 vs. 0.5 mg/dL) in placebo-controlled trials, and -21.4% vs. 0.0% with ezetimibe (4.5 vs. 0.0 mg/dL) in ezetimibe-controlled trials. During follow-up (6699 patient-years), 104 patients experienced MACE. A 12% relative risk reduction in MACE per 25% reduction in Lp(a) (p=0.0254) was no longer significant after adjustment for LDL-C changes: hazard ratio per 25% reduction: 0.89 (95% confidence interval, 0.79-1.01; p=0.0780). In subgroup analysis, the association between Lp(a) reduction and MACE remained significant in a fully adjusted model among participants with baseline Lp(a) ≥50 mg/dL (p-interaction vs. Lp(a) < 50 mg/dL: 0.0549)., Conclusions: In this population, Lp(a) reductions were not significantly associated with MACE independently of LDL-C reductions. Reducing the risk of MACE by targeting Lp(a) may require greater reductions in Lp(a) with more potent therapies and/or higher initial Lp(a) levels., (Copyright © 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: A continuous relationship between reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) has been observed in statin and ezetimibe outcomes trials down to achieved levels of 54 mg/dL. However, it is uncertain whether this relationship extends to LDL-C levels <50 mg/dL. We assessed the relationship between additional LDL-C, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B100 reductions and MACE among patients within the ODYSSEY trials that compared alirocumab with controls (placebo/ezetimibe), mainly as add-on therapy to maximally tolerated statin., Methods: Data were pooled from 10 double-blind trials (6699 patient-years of follow-up). Randomization was to alirocumab 75/150 mg every 2 weeks or control for 24 to 104 weeks, added to background statin therapy in 8 trials. This analysis included 4974 patients (3182 taking alirocumab, 1174 taking placebo, 618 taking ezetimibe). In a post hoc analysis, the relationship between average on-treatment lipid levels and percent reductions in lipids from baseline were correlated with MACE (coronary heart disease death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, or unstable angina requiring hospitalization) in multivariable analyses., Results: Overall, 33.1% of the pooled cohort achieved average LDL-C <50 mg/dL (44.7%-52.6% allocated to alirocumab, 6.5% allocated to ezetimibe, and 0% allocated to placebo). In total, 104 patients experienced MACE (median time to event, 36 weeks). For every 39 mg/dL lower achieved LDL-C, the risk of MACE appeared to be 24% lower (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.76; 95% confidence interval, 0.63-0.91; P=0.0025). Percent reductions in LDL-C from baseline were inversely correlated with MACE rates (hazard ratio, 0.71; 95% confidence interval, 0.57-0.89 per additional 50% reduction from baseline; P=0.003). Strengths of association materially similar to those described for LDL-C were observed with achieved non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein B100 levels or percentage reductions., Conclusions: In a post hoc analysis from 10 ODYSSEY trials, greater percentage reductions in LDL-C and lower on-treatment LDL-C were associated with a lower incidence of MACE, including very low levels of LDL-C (<50 mg/dL). These findings require further validation in the ongoing prospective ODYSSEY OUTCOMES trial., Clinical Trial Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifiers: NCT01507831, NCT01623115, NCT01709500, NCT01617655, NCT01644175, NCT01644188, NCT01644474, NCT01730040, NCT01730053, and NCT01709513., (© 2016 The Authors.)

Objectives: Despite maximally tolerated statin therapy, many patients with high cardiovascular risk, with or without heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia may require additional low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction. We report pooled alirocumab (ALI) efficacy and safety data from eight Phase 3 trials in 4629 hypercholesterolemia patients, receiving background statin therapy., Material and Methods: Studies were pooled by ALI dose and control: ALI 75/150mg every 2weeks (Q2W; dose increased to 150mg Q2W at Week 12 based on Week 8 LDL-C) versus ezetimibe (EZE; Pool 1) or placebo (PBO; Pool 2), and ALI 150mg Q2W versus PBO (Pool 3)., Results: Mean baseline LDL-C was 109 vs. 105mg/dL (Pool 1), 129 vs. 130mg/dL (Pool 2) and 126 vs. 125mg/dL (Pool 3). ALI 75/150mg Q2W reduced LDL-C by 48.9% (vs. -19.3% EZE) and 48.6% (vs. +4.2% PBO) from baseline to Week 24, and ALI 150mg Q2W reduced LDL-C by 60.4% (vs. +0.5% PBO; all p<0.0001). LDL-C reductions were sustained to Week 104. Risk-based LDL-C goals (<70mg/dL or <100mg/dL) were achieved by 78.0%, 75.2%, and 79.0% (Pool 1-3) of ALI-treated patients (vs. 52.4%, 6.4%, and 8.4%, respectively, for controls) at Week 24. Consistent reductions were observed in apolipoprotein B, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and lipoprotein (a) (p<0.0001 vs. control). Common adverse events in ALI-treated patients were nasopharyngitis, injection-site reactions, upper respiratory tract infections, and influenza., Conclusions: Alirocumab treatment significantly reduced LDL-C in high cardiovascular risk patients, enabling most to achieve risk-based LDL-C goals., (Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background Patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) are characterized by elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. Long-term effects of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibition have not been thoroughly investigated in these patients. Objective We evaluated efficacy and safety of alirocumab, a PCSK9 inhibitor, vs placebo in patients with HeFH. Methods In total, 1257 patients with HeFH on maximally tolerated statin ± other lipid-lowering therapies from four 78-week ODYSSEY trials were analyzed. In FH I and II, patients with baseline LDL-C levels ≥70/100 mg/dL ( n = 735), depending on documented cardiovascular disease history, received placebo or alirocumab 75 mg every 2 weeks (Q2W; with dose increase to 150 mg Q2W at week 12 if week 8 LDL-C was ≥70 mg/dL). Separately, data were pooled from HIGH FH (baseline LDL-C ≥160 mg/dL) and patients with HeFH from LONG TERM (baseline LDL-C ≥70 mg/dL), where patients received placebo or alirocumab 150 mg Q2W ( n = 522). Results At week 24, alirocumab reduced LDL-C levels by −48.8% (75/150 mg Q2W; placebo: +7.1%) and −55.0% (alirocumab 150 mg Q2W; placebo: +1.3%) (both P < .0001 vs placebo; intention-to-treat analysis). Least-squares mean LDL-C levels of 69.1 to 75.6 mg/dL (alirocumab 75/150 mg/dL Q2W; baseline: 141.3 mg/dL) and 72.2 to 82.3 mg/dL (alirocumab 150 mg Q2W; baseline: 168.4 mg/dL) were achieved at weeks 24 to 78 (on-treatment analysis). Additional beneficial effects were observed in other lipids. Treatment-emergent adverse event rates were similar in the alirocumab (80.5%) and placebo groups (83.0%). Conclusions In this large cohort of patients with HeFH, alirocumab significantly reduced LDL-C levels. Alirocumab was generally well tolerated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]