Alirocumab in high-risk patients: Observations from the open-label expanded use program

BACKGROUND: The alirocumab expanded use program provided open-label access to alirocumab before its commercial availability to patients with severe hypercholesterolemia not controlled with maximally tolerated doses of standard-of-care lipid-lowering therapy. OBJECTIVE: To describe the safety and lipid-lowering efficacy of alirocumab in high-risk patients who were likely to be early users of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors after approval. METHODS: Patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) and/or coronary heart disease (CHD) and baseline low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) of ≥160 mg/dL on maximally tolerated lipid-lowering therapy were enrolled and received alirocumab 150 mg every 2 weeks for 24 weeks. Patients were permitted use of all available statins; those not taking any dose of statin could also be enrolled. RESULTS: Of 100 enrolled patients, 93 were white, 62 were women, and overall mean age was 58 years; 61 had HeFH, 3 had unknown type of familial hypercholesterolemia, 66 had CHD, and 30 had both familial hypercholesterolemia and CHD. Sixty-four patients were identified by their providers to have some level of statin intolerance; of these, 47 were not on statin. Alirocumab reduced LDL-C on average from 221 mg/dL at baseline to 102 mg/dL by week 24 (-55%). Treatment-emergent adverse events were experienced in 61% of patients and treatment-emergent adverse events leading to permanent treatment discontinuation in 3% of patients; no deaths occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Safety and efficacy observations from the open-label alirocumab expanded use program of very high-risk patients with HeFH and/or CHD and baseline LDL-C of ≥160 mg/dL uncontrolled by maximally tolerated lipid-lowering therapy were consistent with those in the placebo/ezetimibe-controlled ODYSSEY trials

Arterial load and right ventricular-vascular coupling in pulmonary hypertension

Right ventricular (RV) functional adaptation to afterload determines outcome in pulmonary hypertension (PH). RV afterload is determined by the dynamic interaction between pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), characteristic impedance (Zc), and wave reflection. Pulmonary vascular impedance (PVZ) represents the most comprehensive measure of RV afterload; however, there is an unmet need for an easier bedside measurement of this complex variable. Although a recent study showed that Zc and wave reflection can be estimated from RV pressure waveform analysis and cardiac output, this has not been validated. Estimations of Zc and wave reflection coefficient (λ) were validated relative to conventional spectral analysis in an animal model. Zc, k, and the single-beat ratio of end-systolic to arterial elastance (Ees/Ea) to estimate RV-pulmonary arterial (PA) coupling were determined from right heart catheterization (RHC) data. The study included 30 pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) and 40 heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) patients [20 combined pre- and postcapillary PH (Cpc-PH) and 20 isolated postcapillary PH, (Ipc-PH)]. Also included were 10 age- and sex-matched controls. There was good agreement with minimal bias between estimated and spectral analysis-derived Zc and k. Zc in PAH and Cpc-PH groups exceeded that in the Ipc-PH group and controls. k was increased in Ipc-PH (0.84 ± 0.02), Cpc-PH (0.87 ± 0.05), and PAH groups (0.85 ± 0.04) compared with controls (0.79 ± 0.03); all P values were<0.05. k was the only afterload parameter associated with RV-PA coupling in PAH. In the PH-HFpEF group, RV-PA uncoupling was independent of RV afterload. Our findings indicate that Zc and k derived from an RV pressure curve can be used to improve estimation of RV afterload. k is the only afterload measure associated with RV-PA uncoupling in PAH, whereas RV-PA uncoupling in PH-HFpEF appears to be independent of afterload consistent with an inherent abnormality of the RV myocardium.SCOPUS: ar.jDecretOANoAutActifinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Association of patient perceptions of cardiovascular risk and beliefs on statin drugs with racial differences in statin use: Insights from the patient and provider assessment of lipid management registry

Importance: African American individuals face higher atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk than white individuals; reasons for these differences, including potential differences in patient beliefs regarding preventive care, remain unknown. Objective: To evaluate differences in statin use between white and African American patients and identify the potential causes for any observed differences. Design, setting, and participants: Using the 2015 Patient and Provider Assessment of Lipid Management (PALM) Registry data, we compared statin use and dosing between African American and white outpatient adults who were potentially eligible for primary or secondary prevention statins. A total of 138 US community health care practices contributed to the data. Data analysis was conducted from March 2017 to May 2018. Main outcomes and measures: Primary outcomes were use and dosing of statin therapy according to the 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guideline by African American or white race. Secondary outcomes included lipid levels and patient-reported beliefs. Poisson regression was used to evaluate the association between race and statin undertreatment, a category combining people who were not taking a statin or those taking a dose intensity lower than recommended. Results: A total of 5689 patients (806 [14.2%] African American) in the PALM registry were eligible for statin therapy. African American individuals were less likely than white individuals to be treated with a statin (570/807 [70.6%] vs 3654/4883 [74.8%]; P = .02). Among those treated, African American patients were less likely than white patients to receive a statin at guideline-recommended intensity (269 [33.3%] vs 2145 [43.9%], respectively; P \u3c .001; relative risk, 1.07 [95% CI, 1.00-1.15]; P = .05, after adjustment for demographic and clinical factors). The median (interquartile range) low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels of patients receiving treatment were higher among African American than white individuals (97.0 [76.0-121.0] mg/dL vs 85.0 [68.0-105.0] mg/dL; P \u3c .001). African American individuals were less likely than white individuals to believe statins were safe (292 [36.2%] vs 2800 [57.3%]; P \u3c .001) or effective (564 [70.0%] vs 3635 [74.4%]; P = .008) and were less likely to trust their clinician (663 [82.3%] vs 4579 [93.8%]; P \u3c .001). Group differences in statin undertreatment were not significant after adjusting for demographic, clinical, and clinician factors, socioeconomic status, and patient beliefs (final adjusted relative risk, 1.03 [95% CI 0.96-1.11]; P = .35). Conclusions and relevance: African American individuals were less likely to receive guideline-recommended statin therapy. Demographic, clinical, socioeconomic, belief-related, and clinician differences contributed to observed differences and represent potential targets for interventio

Lipid management in contemporary community practice: Results from the provider assessment of lipid management (PALM) registry

Background: The latest cholesterol guidelines have shifted focus from achieving low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) targets toward statin use and intensity guided by atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk. Methods: Statin use and intensity were evaluated in 5,905 statin-eligible primary or secondary prevention patients from 138 PALM Registry practices. Results: Overall, 74.7% of eligible adults were on statins; only 42.4% were on guideline-recommended intensity. Relative to primary prevention patients, ASCVD patients were more likely to be on a statin (83.6% vs 63.4%, P\u3c.0001) and guideline-recommended intensity (47.3% vs 36.0%, P\u3c.0001). Men were more likely than women to be prescribed recommended intensity for primary (odds ratio [OR] 1.87, 95% CI 1.49-2.34) and secondary (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.26-1.70) prevention. In primary prevention, increasing age, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and lower 10-year ASCVD risk were associated with increased odds of receiving recommended intensity. Among ASCVD patients, those with coronary artery disease were more likely to be on recommended intensity than cerebrovascular or peripheral vascular disease patients (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.41-2.09), as were those seen by cardiologists (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.12-1.83). Median LDL-C levels were highest among patients not on statins (124.0 mg/dL) and slightly higher among those on lower-than-recommended intensity compared with recommended-therapy recipients (88.0 and 84.0 mg/dL, respectively; P≤.0001). Conclusions: In routine contemporary practice, 1 in 4 guideline-eligible patients was not on a statin; less than half were on the recommended statin intensity. Untreated and undertreated patients had significantly higher LDL-C levels than those receiving guideline-directed statin treatmen

An open-label, single-arm, phase II clinical trial of RP1, an enhanced potency oncolytic herpes virus, combined with nivolumab in four solid tumor types: Initial results from the skin cancer cohorts.

Background: RP1 is an oncolytic HSV that encodes a fusogenic GALV-GP R- protein and GM-CSF. RP1 demonstrated tolerable safety and tumor regression alone and with nivolumab (nivo) in ph 1 in patients (pts) with a number of tumor types. To further define the efficacy of the combination, ph2 cohorts of 30 pts with 4 tumor types were then opened. Initial data from the melanoma (mel) and the non-mel skin cancer (NMSC) cohorts will be presented. Methods: Unresectable stage IIIb-IV mel pts for whom anti-PD-1 was indicated or who were refractory to 1 prior standard therapy including anti-PD-1 or ipi/nivo were enrolled. NMSC pts were anti-PD1 naïve. Pts received up to 8 doses of RP1 (\u3c=10 mL/visit based on tumor diameter) Q2W (first dose 106 PFU/mL then 107 PFU/mL). From the second RP1 dose pts also received nivo (240 mg IV Q2W for 4 mos then 480 mg IV Q4W up to 2 yrs in the absence toxicity or confirmed progressive disease (PD)). Imaging was done every 8 wks and response assessed by RECISTv1.1 (with confirmation required for PD). Results: As of Jan 22nd 2020, 30 mel pts and 9 NMSC pts had been enrolled with follow up between \u3c1 and 7mo. Of the mel pts 21 were cutaneous, 5 were mucosal and 4 were ocular. Of the NMSC pts, 6 had squamous cell, 1 had basal cell, 1 had Merkel cell carcinomas and 1 had angiosarcoma. Recruitment of the mel cohort is complete, with recruitment into the NMSC cohort ongoing. Based on initial data in melanoma, a further cohort of 125 pts with anti-PD1 refractory cutaneous mel has been opened. Adverse events (AEs) in the ph2 cohorts have been consistent with those in ph1, with RP1 side effects of in general Grade 1/2 constitutional and related symptoms, self-limiting within 72hrs of RP1 injections, with no exacerbation of the side effects expected for nivo. With currently short follow up, multiple objective responses have been observed in treatment naïve mel, anti-PD1 refractory mel (including ipi/nivo refractory and mucosal), and NMSC. Of note 3 of the first 4 anti-PD1 refractory mel pts treated are responding to treatment, as are 5 of the first 6 CSCC pts, including 3 CR. Tumor biopsies routinely showed immune activation, including robust recruitment of CD8+ T cells and increased PD-L1 expression. Treatment remains ongoing in the majority of patients, and current data will be presented. Conclusions: RP1 and nivo has continued to be well tolerated, with promising signs of efficacy in patients with skin cancers, including with anti-PD1 refractory disease. These data support the further development of RP1 combined with anti-PD1 blockade. Clinical trial information: NCT03767348

Lipid management in contemporary community practice: Results from the Provider Assessment of Lipid Management (PALM) Registry

Background: The latest cholesterol guidelines have shifted focus from achieving low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) targets toward statin use and intensity guided by atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk. Methods: Statin use and intensity were evaluated in 5,905 statin-eligible primary or secondary prevention patients from 138 PALM Registry practices. Results: Overall, 74.7% of eligible adults were on statins; only 42.4% were on guideline-recommended intensity. Relative to primary prevention patients, ASCVD patients were more likely to be on a statin (83.6% vs 63.4%, P\u3c.0001) and guideline-recommended intensity (47.3% vs 36.0%, P\u3c.0001). Men were more likely than women to be prescribed recommended intensity for primary (odds ratio [OR] 1.87, 95% CI 1.49-2.34) and secondary (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.26-1.70) prevention. In primary prevention, increasing age, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and lower 10-year ASCVD risk were associated with increased odds of receiving recommended intensity. Among ASCVD patients, those with coronary artery disease were more likely to be on recommended intensity than cerebrovascular or peripheral vascular disease patients (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.41-2.09), as were those seen by cardiologists (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.12-1.83). Median LDL-C levels were highest among patients not on statins (124.0 mg/dL) and slightly higher among those on lower-than-recommended intensity compared with recommended-therapy recipients (88.0 and 84.0 mg/dL, respectively; P≤.0001). Conclusions: In routine contemporary practice, 1 in 4 guideline-eligible patients was not on a statin; less than half were on the recommended statin intensity. Untreated and undertreated patients had significantly higher LDL-C levels than those receiving guideline-directed statin treatmen

SuppTable_Params – Supplemental material for A Quantitative Systems Pharmacology Platform to Investigate the Impact of Alirocumab and Cholesterol-Lowering Therapies on Lipid Profiles and Plaque Characteristics

<p>Supplemental material, SuppTable_Params for A Quantitative Systems Pharmacology Platform to Investigate the Impact of Alirocumab and Cholesterol-Lowering Therapies on Lipid Profiles and Plaque Characteristics by Jeffrey E Ming, Ruth E Abrams, Derek W Bartlett, Mengdi Tao, Tu Nguyen, Howard Surks, Katherine Kudrycki, Ananth Kadambi, Christina M Friedrich, Nassim Djebli, Britta Goebel, Alex Koszycki, Meera Varshnaya, Joseph Elassal, Poulabi Banerjee, William J Sasiela, Michael J Reed, Jeffrey S Barrett and Karim Azer in Gene Regulation and Systems Biology</p

Equations_v2 – Supplemental material for A Quantitative Systems Pharmacology Platform to Investigate the Impact of Alirocumab and Cholesterol-Lowering Therapies on Lipid Profiles and Plaque Characteristics

<p>Supplemental material, Equations_v2 for A Quantitative Systems Pharmacology Platform to Investigate the Impact of Alirocumab and Cholesterol-Lowering Therapies on Lipid Profiles and Plaque Characteristics by Jeffrey E Ming, Ruth E Abrams, Derek W Bartlett, Mengdi Tao, Tu Nguyen, Howard Surks, Katherine Kudrycki, Ananth Kadambi, Christina M Friedrich, Nassim Djebli, Britta Goebel, Alex Koszycki, Meera Varshnaya, Joseph Elassal, Poulabi Banerjee, William J Sasiela, Michael J Reed, Jeffrey S Barrett and Karim Azer in Gene Regulation and Systems Biology</p