Bempedoic acid beneficial in Asians with inadequately controlled hypercholesterolemia

Treatment with bempedoic acid helps lower low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) levels in Asian patients who have LDL-C elevations despite receiving lipid-lowering therapy, including statins, according to a study from Taiwan.

The prospective, pragmatic phase 4 study included 160 Taiwanese patients (mean age 61.4 years, 62.7 percent male, 67.2 percent had pre-existing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease) with a mean baseline LDL-C of 118.1 mg/dL. All patients had been receiving lipid-lowering therapy for at least 4 weeks, with 58.3 percent on statins.

Bempedoic acid was administered to all patients for 12 weeks as an adjunct to background lipid-lowering therapy. Researchers measured the percentage change in LDL‐C as the primary endpoint. Secondary endpoints included changes in other lipid parameters, high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP), and safety.

The mean adherence to bempedoic acid, as evaluated using pill count, was 94.1 percent. At week 12, LDL‐C levels decreased by 19 percent, from 117.5 mg/dL at baseline to 92 mg/dL (p<0.01).

Improvements in other lipid parameters were also observed following treatment with bempedoic acid. The median percentage changes were −13.3 percent for non–high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, −10.8 percent for total cholesterol, −11.5 percent for apolipoprotein B, and −34 percent for hs‐CRP (p<0.01 for all).

Minimal, nonsignificant effects were seen on triglycerides (0.2 percent), high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (−5.5 percent), and lipoprotein(a) (2.6 percent).

At week 12, 31.3 percent of patients achieved LDL‐C targets (<100 mg/dL for primary prevention; <55 or <70 mg/dL for secondary prevention).

Safety outcomes were consistent with the locally approved label, with no new safety signals emerging.