Evolocumab

Updated guidance on preventing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in people with dyslipidemia includes changes reflecting newer medications that could be added to statin therapy or used on patients intolerant to statins.

Patients with atherosclerosis and elevated LDL plus autoimmune or inflammatory disease may derive particular CV benefit from PCSK9 inhibition with evolocumab, a speaker reported.

The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled in favor of Regeneron and Sanofi that two of Amgen’s patents for PCSK9 inhibitor technology were invalid, allowing alirocumab to stay on the U.S. market.

Assessing the effect of evolocumab (Repatha, Amgen) on coronary plaque morphology using intravascular imaging and gene expression analysis in people with stable CAD on maximally tolerated statin therapy.

NEW ORLEANS — In adults with stable CAD on maximally tolerated statin therapy, more intensive lipid lowering with evolocumab was associated with favorable coronary plaque characteristics seen on multiple CV imaging modalities, data show.

Long-term safety of evolocumab (Repatha, Amgen) in FOURIER participants.

Data from an open-label extension of the FOURIER study show use of the PCSK9 inhibitor evolocumab for more than 7 years led to durable reductions in LDL and a reduction in CV events, including CV death, according to a speaker.

Pretreatment evolocumab did not lower risk for periprocedural microvascular dysfunction in patients undergoing elective PCI for stable CAD who were already on statin therapy for high LDL, researchers reported.