Preventing acute pancreatitis caused by hypertriglyceridemia with an oligonucleotide targeting APOC-3 protein, Olezarsen
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Reviewed by Dat Tien Nguyen, B.A, ScM.
Translated by Nhi Phuong Quynh Le, B.A |
Posted on June 17th, 2024
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Familial chylomicronemia syndrome increases the risk of acute pancreatitis due to the high level of triglycerides. In the body, chylomicron and VLDL lipoproteins are responsible for trafficking triglycerides, and they possess APOC3 protein to prevent degradation. Olezarsen is an antisense oligonucleotide that can inhibit the expression of APOC3 and promote triglyceride clearance. Therefore, a study was conducted to examine the effect of Olezarsen on the risk of pancreatitis in patients with familial chylomicronemia syndrome.
The phase 3 clinical trial included 66 patients, with an average age of 45 years old, and were diagnosed with familial chylomicronemia syndrome. At baseline, the average triglyceride level of these participants was approximately 2600 mg/dL. As a result, more than 70% of them were diagnosed with acute pancreatitis within the previous 10 years. The patients were randomly assigned to be treated with either placebo or 2 different doses of Olezarsen (50 mg and 80 mg). The treatment and placebo was administered subcutaneously every 4 weeks for 49 weeks. After 6 months, when compared to placebo, the researchers noted that 80 mg of Olezarsen reduced the triglyceride level by 43.5% of baseline. For the patients who were treated with 50 mg of Olezarsen, there was a detectable decrease in triglyceride level, but this change was not significant. Consequently, within the first year of treatment, Olezarsen reduced the risk of acute pancreatitis by 88%.
The phase 3 clinical trial included 66 patients, with an average age of 45 years old, and were diagnosed with familial chylomicronemia syndrome. At baseline, the average triglyceride level of these participants was approximately 2600 mg/dL. As a result, more than 70% of them were diagnosed with acute pancreatitis within the previous 10 years. The patients were randomly assigned to be treated with either placebo or 2 different doses of Olezarsen (50 mg and 80 mg). The treatment and placebo was administered subcutaneously every 4 weeks for 49 weeks. After 6 months, when compared to placebo, the researchers noted that 80 mg of Olezarsen reduced the triglyceride level by 43.5% of baseline. For the patients who were treated with 50 mg of Olezarsen, there was a detectable decrease in triglyceride level, but this change was not significant. Consequently, within the first year of treatment, Olezarsen reduced the risk of acute pancreatitis by 88%.