Managing blood cholesterol level in statin-intolerant patients with bempedoic acid
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Reviewed by Dat Tien Nguyen, B.A, ScM.
Translated by An Duc Thien Le |
Posted on May 1st, 2023
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Statin is activated by the peripheral tissue so its usage is associated with many adverse effects to the skeletal muscle. Bempedoic acid is metabolized in the liver; thus, the agent has less negative impact. Thus, Esperion Therapeutics had funded a study to investigate the effectiveness of bempedoic acid in managing hypercholesterolemia.
The clinical trial included 13,970 participants who are at a high risk of cardiovascular events and they have previously been treated with statins with no significant clinical benefit. The mean age of the participants is approximately 65 years old and the average body mass index is around 30. The mean baseline LDL cholesterol level of the participants was 139 mg per deciliter. The trial participants were randomly assigned to receive either bempedoic acid or placebo. After 6 months, the researchers found that bempedoic acid helps reduce the LDL cholesterol level by 29.2 mg per deciliter more than those who received placebo. In addition, bempedoic acid helped reduce the risk of death from fatal or non-fatal myocardial infarction by 23%. Bempedoic acid also significantly lowers the risk of hospitalization due to angina by 34%. However, the treatment could not lower the risk of stroke, death from cardiovascular events, and death from any causes. In terms of adverse events, bempedoic acid increases the risk of gout and choleithiasis. Thus, special consideration should be taken when prescribing bempedoic acid
The clinical trial included 13,970 participants who are at a high risk of cardiovascular events and they have previously been treated with statins with no significant clinical benefit. The mean age of the participants is approximately 65 years old and the average body mass index is around 30. The mean baseline LDL cholesterol level of the participants was 139 mg per deciliter. The trial participants were randomly assigned to receive either bempedoic acid or placebo. After 6 months, the researchers found that bempedoic acid helps reduce the LDL cholesterol level by 29.2 mg per deciliter more than those who received placebo. In addition, bempedoic acid helped reduce the risk of death from fatal or non-fatal myocardial infarction by 23%. Bempedoic acid also significantly lowers the risk of hospitalization due to angina by 34%. However, the treatment could not lower the risk of stroke, death from cardiovascular events, and death from any causes. In terms of adverse events, bempedoic acid increases the risk of gout and choleithiasis. Thus, special consideration should be taken when prescribing bempedoic acid