In contrast to statins, which not everyone can take for lowering their high cholesterol, a recent study found that the drug bempedoic acid (Nexletol) significantly decreased the cumulative rate of adverse cardiovascular events by 13%.
The Cleveland Clinic in Ohio’s Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute’s Chief Academic Officer and study head Dr. Steven Nissen expressed his satisfaction with the findings. “Those who had trouble taking a statin were able to take bempedoic acid with really positive results. We are pleased that we were able to show this degree of effectiveness for the patient outcomes that matter most.”
For the first time, a trial was conducted to determine whether bempedoic acid could improve cardiovascular results.At the start of the study, every participant had LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels of at least 100 mg/dL. Also, they either had a prior cardiac episode or other heart disease risk factors.
The patients’ average age was 65, and 70% of them had previously had a cardiac episode.
180 mg of bempedoic acid or a placebo were given to patients in a random order. They had an average of three years of follow-up.According to the study, the medicine was linked to significantly lower rates of the trial’s primary endpoint, which was a composite of cardiovascular mortality, heart attack, stroke, or coronary revascularization, a technique that opens clogged arteries.
The researchers discovered that bempedoic acid reduced cardiac attacks by 23%. Also, it resulted in a 19% decrease in coronary revascularizations.
The researchers discovered that 12% of individuals receiving bempedoic acid experienced cardiovascular mortality, heart attack, stroke, or coronary revascularization as opposed to just over 13% of patients receiving a placebo.
