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- Raal, Frederick J., et al.
(author)
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PCSK9 inhibition with evolocumab (AMG 145) in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (RUTHERFORD-2): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
- 2015
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In: The Lancet. - : Elsevier: Lancet. - 0140-6736 .- 1474-547X. ; 385:9965, s. 331-340
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia is characterised by low cellular uptake of LDL cholesterol, increased plasma LDL cholesterol concentrations, and premature cardiovascular disease. Despite intensive statin therapy, with or without ezetimibe, many patients are unable to achieve recommended target levels of LDL cholesterol. We investigated the effect of PCSK9 inhibition with evolocumab (AMG 145) on LDL cholesterol in patients with this disorder. Methods This multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was undertaken at 39 sites (most of which were specialised lipid clinics, mainly attached to academic institutions) in Australia, Asia, Europe, New Zealand, North America, and South Africa between Feb 7 and Dec 19,2013.331 eligible patients (18-80 years of age), who met clinical criteria for heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia and were on stable lipid-lowering therapy for at least 4 weeks, with a fasting LDL cholesterol concentration of 2.6 mmol/L or higher, were randomly allocated in a 2:2:1:1 ratio to receive subcutaneous evolocumab 140 mg every 2 weeks, evolocumab 420 mg monthly, or subcutaneous placebo every 2 weeks or monthly for 12 weeks. Randomisation was computer generated by the study sponsor, implemented by a computerised voice interactive system, and stratified by LDL cholesterol concentration at screening (higher or lower than 4.1 mmol/L) and by baseline ezetimibe use (yes/no). Patients, study personnel, investigators, and Amgen study staff were masked to treatment assignments within dosing frequency groups. The coprimary endpoints were percentage change from baseline in LDL cholesterol at week 12 and at the mean of weeks 10 and 12, analysed by intention-to-treat. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01763918. Findings Of 415 screened patients, 331 were eligible and were randomly assigned to the four treatment groups: evolocumab 140 mg every 2 weeks (n=111), evolocumab 420 mg monthly (n=110), placebo every 2 weeks (n=55), or placebo monthly (n=55). 329 patients received at least one dose of study drug. Compared with placebo, evolocumab at both dosing schedules led to a significant reduction in mean LDL cholesterol at week 12 (every-2-weeks dose: 59.2% reduction [95% CI 53.4-65.1], monthly dose: 61.3% reduction [53.6-69.0]; both pless than0.0001) and at the mean of weeks 10 and 12 (60.2% reduction [95% CI 54.5-65.8] and 65.6% reduction [59.8-71.3]; both pless than0.0001). Evolocumab was well tolerated, with rates of adverse events similar to placebo. The most common adverse events occurring more frequently in the evolocumab-treated patients than in the placebo groups were nasopharyngitis (in 19 patients [9%] vs five [5%] in the placebo group) and muscle-related adverse events (ten patients [5%] vs 1 [1%]). Interpretation In patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia, evolocumab administered either 140 mg every 2 weeks or 420 mg monthly was well tolerated and yielded similar and rapid 60% reductions in LDL cholesterol compared with placebo.
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| 2. |
- Sjouke, Barbara, et al.
(author)
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Eprotirome in patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia (the AKKA trial): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study
- 2014
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In: LANCET DIABETES and ENDOCRINOLOGY. - : Elsevier: Lancet. - 2213-8587 .- 2213-8595. ; 2:6, s. 455-463
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background Eprotirome is a liver-selective thyroid hormone receptor agonist that has been shown to lower plasma LDL cholesterol concentrations in previous phase 1 and 2 studies of patients with dyslipidaemia. We aimed to assess the long-term safety and efficacy of 50 mu g and 100 mu g eprotirome in patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia. Methods For this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, phase 3 clinical trial, we enrolled patients between Oct 3, 2011, and Feb 14, 2012, at 53 sites in 11 countries in Europe, Africa, and south Asia. Patients were eligible for enrolment if they were aged 18 years or older, diagnosed with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia, and had not reached target LDL cholesterol concentrations after at least 8 weeks of statin therapy with or without ezetimibe. We used a computer-generated randomisation sequence to allocate patients to one of three groups: 50 mu g eprotirome, 100 mu g eprotirome, or placebo. This trial was planned for 52-76 weeks, with primary efficacy analysis at 12 weeks, but it was prematurely terminated when another study found that eprotirome causes cartilage damage in dogs. Although it was impossible to meet the predefined study outcomes, we analysed changes in the concentrations of LDL cholesterol and other lipids, liver parameters, thyroid hormone concentrations, and adverse effects of treatment with eprotirome versus placebo at 6 weeks of treatment. Analysis was done in all patients who received 6 weeks of treatment. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01410383. Findings We enrolled 236 patients, randomly allocating 80 to receive placebo, 79 to receive 50 mu g eprotirome, and 77 to receive 100 mu g eprotirome. 69 patients reached the 6 week timepoint (23 given placebo, 24 given 50 mu g eprotirome, and 22 given 100 mu g eprotirome). Mean LDL cholesterol concentrations increased by 9% (95% CI -2 to 20) in the placebo group, decreased by 12% (-28 to 4%; p=0.0677 vs placebo) in the 50 mu g eprotirome group, and decreased by 22% (-32 to -13%; p=0.0045 vs placebo) in the 100 mu g eprotirome group. We noted statistically significant increases between both eprotirome groups and placebo in aspartate aminotransferase (AST; pless than0.0001), alanine aminotransferase (ALT; pless than0.0001), conjugated bilirubin (p=0.0006), and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (pless than0.0001). Four patients had to discontinue or interrupt study treatment before trial termination due to AST increases between the upper limit of normal (ULN) and six times ULN, and ALT concentrations between three and seven times ULN. Although we detected no changes in serum concentrations of thyroid-stimulating hormone or free tri-iodothyronine, free tetra-iodothyronine decreased by 19% (23 to 16) in the 50 mu g eprotirome group and 27% (30 to 23) in the 100 mu g eprotirome group (pless than0.0001 vs placebo for both groups). Interpretation Our findings show that eprotirome can lower LDL cholesterol concentrations in patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia when added to conventional statin treatment with or without ezetimibe, but that it has the potential to induce liver injury. These findings, along with findings of cartilage damage in dogs, raise serious doubts about selective thyroid hormone mimetics as a therapeutic approach to lower LDL cholesterol concentrations.
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