Heart disease is still the number one killer of adults in America. This sad reality is what makes research for better and more effective treatment options so critical. Recent findings presented at the annual meeting of the European Atherosclerosis Society in Glasgow, Scotland, shed light on a new potential solution. The study just released in The Lancet holds some very exhilarating results. A single oral dose of obicetrapib in combination with ezetimibe produces significant reductions in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
Cleveland Clinic investigators performed a Phase 3 trial. Their median age was 68 and they successfully enrolled 407 patients. All subjects had out-of-control LDL cholesterol above 70 mg/dL while on active-cholesterol-lowering therapy. The trial showed that the combination treatment lowered LDL by an unprecedented 48.6%.
Dr. Ashish Sarraju, preventive cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic. While serving as the lead researcher for the trial, Dr. Cannon made clear that reducing LDL levels is vitally important in high-risk patients.
“We need to give patients and their doctors all the options we can to try to get LDL under control if they are at risk for, or already have, cardiovascular disease,” – Dr. Ashish Sarraju.
Dr. Sarraju further noted, “In higher-risk patients, you want to get LDL down as quickly as possible and keep it there as long as possible.” An increase in LDL could be a new and dangerous risk factor for heart disease. Sadly, most patients are unable to take care of this condition properly. Dr. Corey Bradley, a cardiologist at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, underscored that alarming reality. Only 20% of high-risk patients are able to adequately manage their LDL levels.
“High LDL is one of the leading risk factors for heart disease, and we have such a poor handle on controlling that risk,” – Dr. Corey Bradley.
These very promising results from this trial have undeniably captured the imagination of multiple stakeholders in this space. Linda Carroll, Peabody Award-winning journalist, frequent contributor to NBC News and current State Impact senior editor, couldn’t contain her excitement about the new drug.
“I am very excited about drugs like obicetrapib,” – Linda Carroll.
Dr. Robert Rosenson, director of lipids and metabolism for the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City, approaches the findings with caution. He understood that other drugs in this class had failed before. These drugs never proved effective at preventing heart attacks or strokes.
“I am cautiously hopeful,” – Dr. Robert Rosenson.
The impacts of this study couldn’t be more timely with heart disease affecting nearly 1 in 4 people in the U.S. Given the high burden of dyslipidemia, it is more important than ever that healthcare providers identify effective therapeutic strategies. This new combination treatment is a welcome breakthrough in the continued war against cardiovascular disease.
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