Nexlizet Drug Information
Generic name: BEMPEDOIC ACID AND EZETIMIBE
Adenosine Triphosphate-Citrate Lyase Inhibitor [EPC] Dietary Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitor [EPC]
Uses of Nexlizet
- NEXLIZET, a combination of bempedoic acid and ezetimibe, is indicated: as an adjunct to diet and exercise to reduce LDL-C in adults with hypercholesterolemia, including heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH).
- Bempedoic acid, a component of NEXLIZET, is indicated: to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or coronary revascularization) in adults at increased risk for these events who are unable to take recommended statin therapy (including those not taking a statin). NEXLIZET, a combination of bempedoic acid, an adenosine triphosphate citrate lyase (ACL) inhibitor, and ezetimibe, a dietary cholesterol absorption inhibitor, is indicated: As an adjunct to diet and exercise to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in adults with hypercholesterolemia, including heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH).
- Bempedoic acid, a component of NEXLIZET, is indicated: To reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or coronary revascularization) in adults at increased risk for these events who are unable to take recommended statin therapy (including those not taking a statin).
Dosage & Administration of Nexlizet
Recommended Dosage and
Administration The recommended dosage of NEXLIZET is one tablet orally once daily. One tablet of NEXLIZET contains 180 mg of bempedoic acid and 10 mg of ezetimibe. Swallow the tablet whole.
NEXLIZET can be taken with or without food. If a dose is missed, take the missed dose as soon as possible. Do not double the next dose.
After initiation of NEXLIZET, analyze lipid levels within 8 to 12 weeks.
Coadministration with Bile Acid Sequestrants Administer
NEXLIZET either at least 2 hours before or at least 4 hours after administration of a bile acid sequestrant.
Side Effects of Nexlizet
Clinical Trials Experience
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in clinical practice. Bempedoic acid The data in Table 1 reflect exposure to bempedoic acid in two placebo-controlled primary hypercholesterolemia trials that included 2,009 patients treated with bempedoic acid for 52 weeks (median treatment duration of 52 weeks) . The mean age for bempedoic acid-treated patients was 65 years, 29% were female, 95% were White, 3% were Black or African American, 1% were Asian, and 1% were other races; 3% identified as Hispanic or Latino ethnicity. All patients received bempedoic acid 180 mg orally once daily plus maximally tolerated statin therapy alone or in combination with other lipid-lowering therapies.
At baseline, 97% of patients had CVD and about 4% had a diagnosis of HeFH. Patients on simvastatin 40 mg/day or higher were excluded from the trials. In the primary hypercholesterolemia trials, adverse reactions led to discontinuation of treatment in 11% of bempedoic acid-treated patients and 8% of placebo-treated patients. The most common reasons for bempedoic acid treatment discontinuation were muscle spasms (0.5% versus 0.3% placebo), diarrhea (0.4% versus 0.1% placebo), and pain in extremity (0.3% versus 0.0% placebo). Adverse reactions reported in at least 2% of bempedoic acid-treated patients and more frequently than in placebo-treated patients are shown in Table 1. Table 1. Adverse Reactions (≥ 2% and greater than placebo) in Bempedoic Acid-Treated Patients with Primary Hypercholesterolemia and CVD or HeFH (Trials 2 and 3) Adverse Reaction Placebo Background therapy included statin ± other lipid-lowering therapies (N = 999) % Bempedoic acid (N = 2,009) % Upper respiratory tract infection 4.0
Muscle spasms 2.3 3.6 Hyperuricemia Grouped term that includes other related terms
1.1
In the cardiovascular outcomes trial in which 7,001 patients were exposed to
bempedoic acid and 6,964 patients were exposed to placebo for a median of 3.1 years , adverse reactions led to discontinuation of treatment in 11% of bempedoic acid-treated patients and 10% of placebo-treated patients. Adverse reactions reported in at least 2% of bempedoic acid-treated patients and more frequently than placebo are shown in Table 2. Table 2. Adverse Reactions (≥ 2% and 0.5% greater than placebo) in Bempedoic Acid-Treated Patients with CVD or at High Risk for CVD (Trial 4) Adverse Reaction Placebo (N=6,964) % Bempedoic Acid (N=7,001) % Hyperuricemia Grouped term that includes other related terms 8 16 Renal impairment Renal impairment includes laboratory related terms including glomerular filtration rate decreased, blood creatinine increased and hematuria 9 11 Anemia 4 5 Elevated liver enzymes 3 4 Muscle spasms 3 4 Gout 2 3 Cholelithiasis 1 2 Other Adverse Reactions Tendon Rupture In the hypercholesterolemia trials, tendon rupture occurred in 0.5% of bempedoic acid-treated patients versus 0% of placebo-treated patients. In the cardiovascular outcomes trial, tendon rupture events occurred in 1.2% of bempedoic acid-treated patients versus 0.9% of placebo-treated patients.
Gout In the hypercholesterolemia trials, gout occurred in 1.5% of bempedoic acid-treated patients versus 0.4% of placebo-treated patients. In the cardiovascular outcomes trial, gout occurred in 3.2% of bempedoic acid-treated patients versus 2.2% of placebo-treated patients. Laboratory Tests Bempedoic acid was associated with persistent changes in multiple laboratory tests that occurred within the first 4 weeks of treatment, and returned to baseline following discontinuation of treatment.
Increase in Creatinine and Blood Urea Nitrogen In the hypercholesterolemia trials, there was a mean increase in serum creatinine of 0.05 mg/dL compared to baseline with bempedoic acid at Week 12. Approximately 3.8% of patients treated with bempedoic acid had blood urea nitrogen values that doubled (versus 1.5% placebo), and about 2.2% of patients had creatinine values that increased by 0.5 mg/dL (versus 1.1% placebo). In the cardiovascular outcomes trial, 7.1% of patients had creatinine values that increased by 0.5 mg/dL (versus 5.5% placebo) and 9.5% of patients in the bempedoic acid group had BUN values that increased ≥ 2× baseline (versus 6.2% placebo). Decrease in Hemoglobin and Leukocytes In the hypercholesterolemia trials, approximately 5.1% of patients treated with bempedoic acid (versus 2.3% placebo) had decreases in hemoglobin levels of 2 or more g/dL and below the lower limit of normal on one or more occasion. Anemia was reported in 2.8% of patients treated with bempedoic acid and 1.9% of patients treated with placebo. Approximately 9.0% of bempedoic acid-treated patients with normal baseline leukocyte count had a decrease to less than the lower limit of normal on one or more occasion (versus 6.7% placebo). Leukocyte decrease was generally asymptomatic and did not require medical intervention.
In the hypercholesterolemia trials, there was a small imbalance in skin or soft tissue infections, including cellulitis (0.8% versus 0.4%), but there was no imbalance in other infections. In the cardiovascular outcomes trial, 10.8% of patients (versus 7.4% placebo) had a decrease in hemoglobin of 2 or more g/dL and below the lower limit of normal. Anemia was reported in 4.7% of patients treated with bempedoic acid and 3.9% of patients treated with placebo.
There were 9.3% of bempedoic acid-treated patients with a leukocyte count below the lower limit of normal (and normal at baseline) at any point (versus 6.8% placebo). Increase in Platelet Count In the hypercholesterolemia trials, approximately 10.1% of bempedoic acid-treated patients (versus 4.7% placebo) had increases in platelet counts of 100× 10 9 /L or more on one or more occasion. In the cardiovascular outcomes trial, 18.6% of patients in the bempedoic acid-treated group (versus 10.2% placebo) had an increase in platelet count of 100 × 10 9 /L or more. Platelet count increase was asymptomatic and did not result in increased risk for thromboembolic events.
Increase in Liver Enzymes In the hypercholesterolemia trials, increases in hepatic transaminases (AST and/or ALT) were observed with bempedoic acid. In most cases, the elevations were transient and resolved or improved with continued therapy or after discontinuation of therapy. Increases to more than 3× the upper limit of normal (ULN) in AST occurred in 1.4% of patients treated with bempedoic acid versus 0.4% of placebo patients, and increases to more than 5× ULN occurred in 0.4% of bempedoic acid- treated versus 0.2% of placebo-treated patients.
Increases in ALT occurred with similar incidence between bempedoic acid- and placebo-treated patients. Elevations in transaminases were generally asymptomatic and not associated with elevations ≥ 2× ULN in bilirubin or with cholestasis. In the cardiovascular outcomes trial, the incidence of repeated and confirmed ALT and/or AST >3× ULN was 1.6% in the bempedoic acid-treated group (versus 1.0% placebo). A higher percentage of patients in the bempedoic acid-treated group had hepatic enzyme elevations versus placebo (4.5% versus 3.0%, respectively). Increase in Creatine Kinase In the hypercholesterolemia trials, approximately 1.0% of patients (versus 0.6% placebo) had elevations of CK levels of 5 or more times the normal value on one or more occasions, and 0.4% of patients (versus 0.2% placebo) had elevations of CK levels of 10 or more times.
Ezetimibe In 10 double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials , 2,396 patients with primary hypercholesterolemia (age range 9 to 86 years, 50% were female, 90% were White, 5% were Black or African American, 2% were Asian, 3% other races; 3% identified as Hispanic or Latino ethnicity) and elevated LDL-C were treated with ezetimibe 10 mg/day for a median treatment duration of 12 weeks (range 0 to 39 weeks). Adverse reactions reported in ≥ 2% of patients treated with ezetimibe and at an incidence greater than placebo in placebo-controlled studies of ezetimibe are shown in Table 3. Table 3. Adverse Reactions Occurring in ≥ 2% and greater than placebo in Ezetimibe-treated Patients Adverse Reaction Placebo (%) N = 1,159 Ezetimibe 10 mg (%) N = 2,396 Upper respiratory tract infection 2.5
Diarrhea 3.7 4.1 Arthralgia 2.2 3.0 Sinusitis 2.2 2.8 Pain in extremity
2.5
Fatigue 1.5 2.4 Influenza 1.5 2.0
NEXLIZET In a 4-arm, 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group, factorial trial, 85 patients received NEXLIZET (180 mg of bempedoic acid and 10 mg of ezetimibe) once daily . The mean age for NEXLIZET-treated patients was 62 years, 51% were female, 78% were White, 19% were Black or African American, 2% were Asian, and 1% were American Indian or Alaska Native; 11% identified as Hispanic or Latino ethnicity. At baseline, 61% of patients had CVD and/or a diagnosis of HeFH. All patients received NEXLIZET plus maximally tolerated statin therapy. Patients taking simvastatin 40 mg/day or higher and patients taking non-statin lipid-lowering therapy (including fibrates, niacin, bile acid sequestrants, ezetimibe, and PCSK9 inhibitors) were excluded from the trial.
Adverse reactions led to discontinuation of treatment in 8% of patients on NEXLIZET, 5% of patients on placebo, 10% of patients on bempedoic acid, and 12% of patients on ezetimibe. The most common reason for NEXLIZET treatment discontinuation was oral discomfort (2% NEXLIZET versus 0% placebo). The most commonly reported adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 3% and greater than placebo) observed with NEXLIZET, but not observed in clinical trials of bempedoic acid or ezetimibe, were urinary tract infection (5.9% NEXLIZET versus 2.4% placebo), nasopharyngitis (4.7% NEXLIZET versus 0% placebo), and constipation (4.7% NEXLIZET versus 0% placebo).
Postmarketing Experience
The following adverse reactions have been identified during post approval use of ezetimibe and/or bempedoic acid. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. Blood Disorders: thrombocytopenia Gastrointestinal Disorders: abdominal pain; pancreatitis; nausea Hepatobiliary Disorders: elevations in liver transaminases, including elevations more than 5× ULN; hepatitis; cholelithiasis; cholecystitis Immune System Disorders: Hypersensitivity reactions including: anaphylaxis, angioedema, wheezing, rash, and urticaria Musculoskeletal Disorders: elevated creatine phosphokinase; myopathy/rhabdomyolysis Nervous System Disorders: dizziness; paresthesia; depression; headache Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders: erythema multiforme
Warnings & Cautions for Nexlizet
Hyperuricemia Bempedoic acid, a component of
NEXLIZET, inhibits renal tubular OAT2 and may increase blood uric acid levels . In the primary hypercholesterolemia trials , 26% of bempedoic acid-treated patients with normal baseline uric acid values (versus 9.5% placebo) experienced hyperuricemia one or more times, and 3.5% of patients experienced clinically significant hyperuricemia reported as an adverse reaction (versus 1.1% placebo). Increases in uric acid levels usually occurred within the first 4 weeks of treatment initiation, persisted throughout treatment, and returned to baseline following discontinuation of treatment. After 12 weeks of treatment, the mean placebo-adjusted increase in uric acid compared to baseline was 0.8 mg/dL for patients treated with bempedoic acid. In the cardiovascular outcomes trial , 16.4% of bempedoic acid-treated patients experienced clinically significant hyperuricemia reported as an adverse reaction (versus 8.2% placebo). Elevated blood uric acid may lead to the development of gout.
In the primary hypercholesterolemia trials, gout was reported in 1.5% of patients treated with bempedoic acid versus 0.4% of patients treated with placebo. In the cardiovascular outcomes trial, gout was reported in 3.2% of patients treated with bempedoic acid and 2.2% treated with placebo. Advise patients to contact their healthcare provider if symptoms of hyperuricemia occur.
Assess serum uric acid when clinically indicated. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of hyperuricemia, and initiate treatment with urate-lowering drugs as appropriate.
Tendon Rupture Bempedoic acid, a component of
NEXLIZET, is associated with an increased risk of tendon rupture or injury. In the primary hypercholesterolemia trials , tendon rupture occurred in 0.5% of patients treated with bempedoic acid versus 0% of placebo-treated patients and involved the rotator cuff (the shoulder), biceps tendon, or Achilles tendon. Tendon rupture occurred within weeks to months of starting bempedoic acid.
In the cardiovascular outcomes trial , tendon rupture events occurred in 1.2% of bempedoic acid-treated patients versus 0.9% of placebo-treated patients. Tendon rupture may occur more frequently in patients over 60 years of age, in those taking corticosteroid or fluoroquinolone drugs, in patients with renal failure, and in patients with previous tendon disorders. Discontinue NEXLIZET immediately if the patient experiences rupture of a tendon.
Consider discontinuing NEXLIZET if the patient experiences joint pain, swelling, or inflammation. Advise patients to rest at the first sign of tendinitis or tendon rupture and to contact their healthcare provider if tendinitis or tendon rupture symptoms occur. Consider alternative therapy in patients with a history of tendon disorders or tendon rupture.
Drug Interactions with Nexlizet
No specific pharmacokinetic drug interaction studies with NEXLIZET have been conducted. Table 4 lists drug interactions with NEXLIZET that have been identified in studies with bempedoic acid or ezetimibe. Table 4. Clinically Important Drug Interactions with NEXLIZET Simvastatin Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of NEXLIZET with simvastatin causes an increase in simvastatin concentration and may increase the risk of simvastatin-related myopathy . Intervention: Avoid concomitant use of NEXLIZET with simvastatin greater than 20 mg.
Pravastatin Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of NEXLIZET with pravastatin causes an increase in pravastatin concentration and may increase the risk of pravastatin-related myopathy . Intervention: Avoid concomitant use of NEXLIZET with pravastatin greater than 40 mg. Cyclosporine Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of NEXLIZET and cyclosporine increases ezetimibe and cyclosporine concentrations. The degree of increase in ezetimibe exposure may be greater in patients with severe renal insufficiency . Intervention: Monitor cyclosporine concentrations in patients receiving NEXLIZET and cyclosporine.
In patients treated with cyclosporine, weigh the potential effects of the increased exposure to ezetimibe from concomitant use against the benefits of alterations in lipid levels provided by NEXLIZET. Fibrates Clinical Impact: Both fenofibrate and ezetimibe (a component of NEXLIZET) may increase cholesterol excretion into the bile, leading to cholelithiasis. Coadministration of NEXLIZET with fibrates other than fenofibrate is not recommended . Intervention: If cholelithiasis is suspected in a patient receiving NEXLIZET and fenofibrate, gallbladder studies are indicated and alternative lipid-lowering therapy should be considered. Clinical Impact: Concomitant administration of fibrates with bempedoic acid (a component of NEXLIZET) resulted in increased triglycerides and decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in some patients in clinical studies and post-marketing reports.
Reversibility of both increased triglycerides and decreased HDL-C levels was observed when either bempedoic acid or fibrate therapy was discontinued. Intervention: Monitor triglycerides and HDL-C four weeks after initial concomitant use of NEXLIZET and a fibrate and periodically thereafter. If increased triglycerides or decreased HDL-C levels are detected, discontinue NEXLIZET or fibrate therapy based on clinical judgment.
Monitor triglycerides and HDL-C levels until levels return to baseline. Cholestyramine Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of NEXLIZET and cholestyramine decreases ezetimibe concentration. This may result in a reduction of efficacy.
Intervention: Administer NEXLIZET either at least 2 hours before or at least 4 hours after bile acid sequestrants . Simvastatin: Avoid concomitant use of NEXLIZET with simvastatin greater than 20 mg. Pravastatin: Avoid concomitant use of NEXLIZET with pravastatin greater than 40 mg. Cyclosporine: Monitor cyclosporine concentrations.
Fibrates: If cholelithiasis is suspected in a patient receiving NEXLIZET and fenofibrate, consider alternative lipid-lowering therapy. Concomitant use of NEXLIZET with fibrates may increase triglycerides and decrease high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
Pregnancy Safety for Nexlizet
Pregnancy Risk Summary Discontinue NEXLIZET when pregnancy is recognized unless the benefits of therapy outweigh the potential risks to the fetus. There are insufficient data on bempedoic acid use in pregnant women to evaluate for a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. There are insufficient data on ezetimibe use in pregnant women to evaluate for a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes.
In animal reproduction studies, bempedoic acid was not teratogenic in rats and rabbits when administered at doses resulting in exposures up to 11 and 12 times, respectively, the human exposures at the maximum clinical dose, based on AUC. In oral (gavage) embryo-fetal development studies of ezetimibe conducted in rats and rabbits during organogenesis, there was no evidence of maternal toxicity or embryo-fetal teratogenic or toxicologic effects at exposures up to 10 and 150 times the human exposure, respectively, based on AUC (see Data ). NEXLIZET decreases cholesterol synthesis and possibly the synthesis of other biologically active substances derived from cholesterol; therefore, NEXLIZET may cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant women based on the mechanism of action . In addition, treatment of hypercholesterolemia is not generally necessary during pregnancy. Atherosclerosis is a chronic process and the discontinuation of lipid-lowering drugs during pregnancy should have little impact on the outcome of long-term therapy of primary hypercholesterolemia for most patients. The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown.
In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2-4% and 15-20%, respectively. Report pregnancies to the Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. Adverse Event reporting line at 1-833-377-7633. Data Animal Data Bempedoic acid Bempedoic acid was not teratogenic when given orally at doses of 60 and 80 mg/kg/day, resulting in 11 and 12 times the systemic exposure in humans at the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of 180 mg to pregnant rats and rabbits, respectively.
In an embryofetal development study in rats, bempedoic acid was given orally to pregnant rats at 10, 30, and 60 mg/kg/day during the period of organogenesis from gestation day 6 to 17. There were increases in the incidence of non-adverse fetal skeletal variations (bent long bones and bent scapula and incomplete ossification) at doses ≥ 10 mg/kg/day (less than the clinical exposure) in the absence of maternal toxicity. At maternally toxic doses, bempedoic acid caused decreases in the numbers of viable fetuses, increases in post-implantation loss, and increased total resorptions at 60 mg/kg/day (11 times MRHD) and reduced fetal body weight at ≥ 30 mg/kg/day (4 times the MRHD). No adverse development effects were observed when bempedoic acid was given to pregnant rabbits during the period of organogenesis (gestation day 6 to 18) at doses up to 80 mg/kg/day (12 times MRHD). In a pre- and post-natal development study in pregnant rats given oral doses of bempedoic acid at 5, 10, 20, 30 and 60 mg/kg/day throughout pregnancy and lactation (gestation day 6 to lactation day 20), there were adverse effects on delivery in the presence of maternal toxicity, including: increases in stillborn pups, reductions in numbers of live pups, pup survival, pup growth and slight delays in learning and memory at ≥ 10 mg/kg/day (at exposures equivalent to the MRHD). Ezetimibe In oral (gavage) embryo-fetal development studies of ezetimibe conducted in rats (gestation days 6-15) and rabbits (gestation days 7-19), there was no evidence of maternal toxicity or embryolethal effects at the doses tested (250, 500, 1,000 mg/kg/day). In rats, increased incidences of common fetal skeletal findings (extra pair of thoracic ribs, unossified cervical vertebral centra, shortened ribs) were observed at 1,000 mg/kg/day (approximately 10 times the human exposure at 10 mg daily based on AUC 0-24hr for total ezetimibe). In rabbits treated with ezetimibe, an increased incidence of extra thoracic ribs was observed at 1,000 mg/kg/day (150 times the human exposure at 10 mg daily based on AUC 0-24hr for total ezetimibe). The animal-to-human exposure multiple for total ezetimibe at the no-observed effect level was 6 times for rat and 134 times for rabbit. Fetal exposure to ezetimibe (conjugated and unconjugated) was confirmed in subsequent placental transfer studies conducted using a maternal dose of 1,000 mg/kg/day.
The fetal maternal plasma exposure ratio (total ezetimibe) was 1.5 for rats on gestation day 20 and 0.03 for rabbits on gestation day 22. The effect of ezetimibe on prenatal and postnatal development and maternal function was evaluated in pregnant rats at doses of 100, 300 or 1,000 mg/kg/day from gestation day 6 through lactation day 21. No maternal toxicity or adverse developmental outcomes were observed up to and including the highest dose tested (17 times the human exposure at 10 mg daily based on AUC 0-24hr for total ezetimibe). Multiple-dose studies of ezetimibe given in combination with statins in rats and rabbits during organogenesis resulted in higher ezetimibe and statin exposures. Reproductive findings occurred at lower doses in combination therapy compared to monotherapy. Bempedoic acid/ezetimibe fixed combination drug product (FCDP) In a combination embryofetal development study in rats, bempedoic acid and ezetimibe were given orally at 4 and 112-times MRHD (based on AUC) during the period of organogenesis (gestation day 6 to 17) in pregnant rats.
Bempedoic acid in combination with ezetimibe did not alter the effects on embryo-fetal development profile of bempedoic acid or ezetimibe.
Pediatric Use of Nexlizet
Pediatric Use The safety and effectiveness of NEXLIZET have not been established in pediatric patients.
Contraindications for Nexlizet
is contraindicated in patients with a prior hypersensitivity to ezetimibe or bempedoic acid or any of the excipients in NEXLIZET . Serious hypersensitivity reactions, such as anaphylaxis, angioedema, rash and urticaria have been reported with ezetimibe or bempedoic acid. Known hypersensitivity to ezetimibe or bempedoic acid or any of the excipients in NEXLIZET.
Overdosage Information for Nexlizet
There is no clinical experience with NEXLIZET overdosage. In the event of an overdosage, consider contacting the Poison Help line (1-800-222-1222) or a medical toxicologist for additional overdosage management recommendations.
Clinical Studies of Nexlizet
Primary Hypercholesterolemia Trials in Adults
The efficacy of NEXLIZET was investigated in a single, multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group trial that enrolled 301 patients with HeFH, established CVD, or multiple risk factors for CVD on maximally tolerated statin therapy. Trial 1 (NCT03337308) was a 4-arm, 12-week trial that assessed the efficacy of NEXLIZET in 301 patients randomized 2:2:2:1 to receive either oral NEXLIZET (180 mg of bempedoic acid and 10 mg of ezetimibe) (n = 86), bempedoic acid 180 mg (n = 88), ezetimibe 10 mg (n = 86), or placebo (n = 41) once daily as add-on to maximally tolerated statin therapy. Patients were stratified by cardiovascular risk and baseline statin intensity.
Patients on simvastatin 40 mg per day or higher and patients taking non-statin lipid-lowering therapy (including fibrates, niacin, bile acid sequestrants, ezetimibe, and PCSK9 inhibitors) were excluded from the trial. Baseline Demographics and Disease Characteristics: Overall, the mean age at baseline was 64 years (range: 30 to 87 years), 50% were 65 years of age and older, 50% were female, 81% were White, 17% were Black or African American, 1% were Asian, and 1% were other races; 12% identified as Hispanic or Latino ethnicity. Sixty-two percent (62%) of patients had clinical CVD and/or a diagnosis of HeFH. The mean baseline LDL-C was 149.7 mg/dL. At the time of randomization, 65% of patients were receiving statin therapy; and 35% were receiving high intensity statin therapy.
Efficacy Results: The primary efficacy outcome measure of the study was the percent change from baseline to Week 12 in LDL-C. The difference between NEXLIZET and placebo in mean percent change in LDL-C from baseline to Week 12 was -38% (95% CI: -47%, -30%; p <0.001). High-density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglycerides (TG) were examined as exploratory endpoints and were not included in the statistical hierarchy. The difference between NEXLIZET and placebo in mean percent change from baseline to Week 12 was -5% for HDL and median percent change from baseline to Week 12 was -11% for TG. The maximum LDL-C lowering effect was observed at Week 4. For additional results see Table 5. Table 5. Lipid Parameters in Adult Patients with HeFH, CVD or Risk Factors for CVD on Maximally Tolerated Statin Therapy (Mean % Change from Baseline to Week 12 in Trial 1) a. 3.5% of subjects on NEXLIZET, 6.8% of subjects on bempedoic acid, 7% of subjects on ezetimibe and 2.4% of subjects on placebo had missing LDL-C data at Week 12. Percent change from baseline was analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), with treatment and randomization strata (high intensity statin versus other and CVD and/or HeFH versus multiple CV risk factors) as factors and baseline lipid parameter as a covariate. Missing data for LDL-C, non-HDL-C, TC and apo B were imputed through multiple imputation using a pattern mixture model (PMM) account for treatment adherence.
LDL-C LS Mean non-HDL-C LS Mean apo B LS Mean TC LS Mean apo B = apolipoprotein B; HDL-C = high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL-C = low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LS = least squares; SE = standard error; TC = total cholesterol. Background statin: atorvastatin, lovastatin, pitavastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin, simvastatin. NEXLIZET (180 mg/10 mg; n = 86 Number of randomized subjects at baseline ) -36 -32 -25 -26 Bempedoic acid (180 mg; n = 88 ) -17 -14 -12 -12 Ezetimibe (10 mg; n = 86 ) -23 -20 -15 -16 Placebo (n = 41 ) 2 2 6 1 Mean Difference of NEXLIZET versus Placebo (95% CI) -38 (-47, -30) -34 (-44, -23) -30 (-40, -20) -27 (-35, -19) Examination of age, sex, and race subgroups did not identify differences in response to NEXLIZET among these subgroups in any of the trials.
Bempedoic Acid Primary Hypercholesterolemia In the two primary hypercholesterolemia (52-week) trials (Trials 2 and 3) that included 3,009 adult patients with HeFH or established CVD on maximally tolerated statin therapy, the difference between bempedoic acid and placebo in mean percent change in LDL-C from baseline to Week 12 was -17% to -18%. Bempedoic acid also significantly lowered non-HDL-C (-13%), apo B (-12% to -13%), and TC (-11%) compared with placebo. Ezetimibe Ezetimibe Added to On-going Statin Therapy: In a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 8-week trial, 769 patients (age range 22 to 85 years, 42% were females; 90% were White, 6% were Black or African American, 1% were Asian, and 3% were other races; 2% identified as Hispanic or Latino ethnicity) with primary hypercholesterolemia, known coronary heart disease or multiple cardiovascular risk factors who were already receiving statin monotherapy, but who had not met their NCEP ATP II target LDL-C goal, were randomized to receive either ezetimibe or placebo in addition to their on-going statin therapy. Ezetimibe, added to on-going statin therapy, significantly lowered TC (-17%), LDL-C (-25%), apo B (-19%), and non-HDL-C (-23%) relative to baseline and compared with a statin administered alone.
LDL-C reductions induced by ezetimibe were generally consistent across all statins. Ezetimibe Initiated Concurrently with a Statin: In four, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 12-week trials, in 2,382 patients (age range 18 to 87 years, 57% were female; 88% were White, 5% were Black or African American, 2% were Asian, and 5% were other races mostly identified as Hispanic or Latino ethnicity) with hypercholesterolemia, ezetimibe or placebo was orally administered alone or with various doses of atorvastatin, simvastatin, pravastatin, or lovastatin. When all patients receiving ezetimibe with a statin were compared to all those receiving the corresponding statin alone, ezetimibe significantly lowered LDL-C (ezetimibe + all atorvastatin doses versus all atorvastatin doses alone ; ezetimibe + all simvastatin doses versus all simvastatin doses alone ; ezetimibe + all pravastatin doses versus all pravastatin doses alone ; ezetimibe + all lovastatin doses versus all lovastatin doses alone ). LDL-C reductions induced by ezetimibe were generally consistent across all statins.
Cardiovascular Outcomes Trial in Adults With
CVD or at High Risk for CVD Trial 4 (NCT02993406) was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, event-driven trial in 13,970 adult patients with established CVD (70%) or at high risk for a CVD event but without CVD (30%) who were not receiving recommended statin dosages. Patients with established CVD had documented history of coronary artery disease, symptomatic peripheral arterial disease, and/or cerebrovascular atherosclerotic disease. Patients without established CVD were considered at high risk for CVD based on meeting at least one of the following criteria: Diabetes mellitus (type 1 or type 2) in females over 65 years of age or males over 60 years of age; A Reynolds Risk score > 30% or a SCORE Risk score > 7.5% over 10 years.
Reynolds risk score and SCORE risk score evaluate a 10-year risk of having a cardiovascular (CV) event. The Reynolds risk score is based on the following risk factors: sex, age, smoking status, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and familial history of CVD events. LDL-C is an additional risk factor considered in SCORE risk score; or A coronary artery calcium score >400 Agatston units at any time in the past.
Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive either oral bempedoic acid 180 mg per day (n = 6,992) or placebo (n = 6,978), alone or as an add on to other background lipid-lowering therapies. Background therapy could include less than low-intensity statin dosages. Overall, 95.3% of adult patients were followed until the end of the trial or death.
The median follow-up duration was 3.4 years. Baseline Demographics and Disease Characteristics At baseline, the mean age was 66 years (range 21 to 92 years), 59% were 65 years of age and older, 15% were 75 years of age and older, 48% were female, 91% were White, 2% were Black or African American, 4% were American Indian or Alaska Native, 2% were Asian, and 1% were other races; 17% identified as Hispanic or Latino ethnicity. Selected additional baseline characteristics included hypertension (85%), diabetes mellitus (46%), current tobacco user (22%), eGFR < 60 mL/min per 1.73 m 2 (21%), and a mean body mass index of 30 kg/m 2. The mean baseline LDL-C was 139 mg/dL. At baseline, 38% of patients were taking at least one lipid modifying therapy including less than low-intensity statin dosages (23%), ezetimibe (12%), or fibrates (5%). Most patients were taking at least one other CV medication including acetylsalicylic acid (57%), selective beta blockers (52%), angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (40%), or angiotensin receptor blockers (32%). Efficacy Results The risk for the primary composite endpoint (MACE-4: time to first occurrence of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or coronary revascularization; p= 0.0037) and the key secondary composite endpoint (MACE-3: time to first occurrence of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or nonfatal stroke; p= 0.0058) was significantly reduced in bempedoic acid-treated patients compared to the placebo-treated patients (Table 6). The difference between bempedoic acid and placebo in mean percent change in LDL-C from baseline to Month 6 was -20% (95% CI: -21%, -19%). Table 6: Major Cardiovascular Events in Adults with Established CVD or at High Risk for CVD (Trial 4) Endpoint Bempedoic acid N=6,992 Placebo N=6,978 Bempedoic acid vs.
Placebo n (%) n (%) Hazard Ratio (95% CI) CI = confidence interval; MACE = major adverse cardiac event. a Hazard ratio and corresponding 95% CI were based on a Cox proportional hazard model fitting treatment as explanatory variable. This table also presents the time to first occurrence for each of the components of MACE; patients may have been included in more than one category. Primary Composite Endpoint Cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, coronary revascularization (MACE-4) 819 927 0.87 Key Secondary Endpoint Cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke (MACE-3) 575 663 0.85 Components of Primary Composite Endpoint Non-fatal myocardial infarction 236 317 0.73 Coronary revascularization 435 529 0.81 Non-fatal stroke 119 144 0.82 Cardiovascular death 269 257 1.04 The Kaplan-Meier estimates of the cumulative incidence of the MACE-4 and MACE-3 endpoints are shown in Figure 1 and 2 below.
MACE = major adverse cardiac event Note: MACE-4 was defined as the time to first occurrence of the composite endpoint of CV death, nonfatal MI, nonfatal stroke, or coronary revascularization. Figure 1: Cumulative Incidence of Primary Composite Endpoint (MACE-4) Over
Years in Adults with Established
CVD or at High Risk for CVD (Trial 4) MACE = major adverse cardiac event MACE-3 was defined as time to first occurrence of the composite endpoint of CV death, nonfatal MI, or nonfatal stroke. Figure 2: Cumulative Incidence of Composite Endpoint (MACE-3) Over
Years in Adults with Established
CVD or at High Risk for CVD (Trial 4) Figure 1 Figure 2
Drug information sourced from the FDA. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional before making any medication decisions.
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