Evolocumab shows promising results in familial hypercholesterolaemia

The Pharmaceutical Journal8 OCT 2014

Many patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) fail to achieve recommended levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol despite pharmacological therapy.

Evolocumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody to PCSK9 (pictured) reduces low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia

Source: PDBbot / Wikimedia Commons

Evolocumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody to PCSK9 (pictured)

Two studies in The Lancet (online, 1 October 2014) show that evolocumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody to PCSK9, reduced LDL cholesterol significantly more than placebo when added to background lipid-lowering therapy in patients with FH, including those with the rare homozygous form of the disease.

The TESLA Part B study^[1] included 49 patients with homozygous FH while RUTHERFORD-2^[2] enrolled 331 patients with heterozygous FH. Evolocumab, administered either fortnightly or monthly, yielded rapid reductions in LDL cholesterol and was well tolerated.

Evolocumab has previously demonstrated efficacy in a broad range of statin-treated patients with primary hypercholesterolaemia.

References:

^[1]Raal FJ et al. Inhibition of PCSK9 with evolocumab in homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (TESLA Part B): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The Lancet 2014. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61374-X (accessed 1 October 2014).

^[2]Raal FJ et al. PCSK9 inhibition with evolocumab (AMG 145) in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (RUTHERFORD-2): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The Lancet 2014. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61399-4 1 (accessed 1 October 2014).

Citation: The Pharmaceutical Journal, 11 October 2014, Vol 293, No 7831, online | DOI: 10.1211/PJ.2014.20066714

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