FOURIER Analysis: Evolocumab Cuts LDL-C Levels by 50% in Most Patients

Results from a recent cohort study suggest that evolocumab was associated with a 50% reduction in low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) levels in more than 90% of patients, and at least 30% in more than 99.8.% of patients.  

The researchers, noting in their report that “little is known about the heterogeneity in LDL-C levels lowering using the proprotein convertase subtilisin kexkin 9 (PCSK9) medications,” conducted the analysis to characterize the relationship. The cohort analysis, evaluating the magnitude of the interindividual variability of LDL-C reduction with evolocumab, included a look at 21,768 patients from the FOURIER trial (10,902 in the evolocumab group). Patients in the FOURIER trial had stable atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and were on statin medication. The main study outcome of interest was the percent reduction in LDL-C with evolocumab. 

Data from FOURIER show PCSK9 inhibition with evolocumab provides robust LDL-C reduction in >90% of patients https://t.co/KQCYIj0fKH @AqamarMD @JAMACardio

— TIMI Study Group (@TIMIStudyGroup) December 13, 2018

New analysis of data from #FOURIER showing the consistent, robust reductions in #LDLC achieved with #PCSK9 inhibition. #CardioTwitter #EpiTwitter #biomarkers #residualrisk https://t.co/xnZ3tUFUFb

— Edward K. Duran (@EKDuranMD) December 13, 2018

During year one, the researchers reported that 10,325 patients in the evolocumab group (94.7%) saw a reduction of LDL-C levels of 50% or more, and also that 10,669 (97.9%) saw at least a 30% reduction. A total of 10,849 patients (99.5%) had saw at least some reduction in their LDL-C levels. These results were relevant across all clinically relevant subgroups.  

“There appears to be a highly consistent robust reduction in LDL-C levels with evolocumab use,” the researchers wrote in a brief report on the study, published in JAMA Cardiology.  

To read previous DocWire News coverage of the FOURIER trial, click here.  

Interindividual Variation in Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Level Reduction With Evolocumab https://t.co/FkXEuKuLsS. LDLc reduction with evolocumab >50% in 90.5% of patients in FOURIER

— Fernando Civeira (@FernandoCiveir1) December 14, 2018

Evolocumab provided a consistent & reliable LDL cholesterol reduction in most patients in FOURIER @TIMIStudyGroup @BWHResearch @HarvardChanSPH @harvardmed https://t.co/nEdHkmFfxU

— Arman Qamar MD MPH (@AqamarMD) December 12, 2018

Source: JAMA Cardiology