Cross-sectional survey to assess the status of lipid management in high-risk patients with dyslipidemia: clinical impact of combination therapy with ezetimibe

Obesity May Not Be a Risk of Non-Target Lesion Revascularization in the Elderly Patients

Obesity is assumed to be one of the robust risk factors for coronary artery disease. However, the effects of obesity on the progression of atherosclerosis in patients in different age groups after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remain unclear. This study aimed to examine the effect of obesity on prognosis in different age groups.Consecutive patients who underwent urgent or elective PCI were surveyed for this study and were then divided into the elderly group and middle-aged group with a cut-off age of 70 years. All patients underwent coronary angiography or coronary computed tomography angiography 1 year after PCI to examine the progression of atherosclerosis. The primary endpoint was revascularization for a new lesion within 2 years after PCI. In addition, the main effects and correlations between obesity and age were examined. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify independent predictors of non-target lesion revascularization (non-TLR).Of the 711 patients who met the criteria and were available for follow-up analysis, the incidence of non-TLR within 2 years was 97/711 (13.6%). The higher incidence of non-TLR in patients with obesity was observed only in the middle-aged group. Furthermore, in the multivariate analysis, obesity was independently associated with non-TLR only in the middle-aged group.The findings of the present study would enable us to construct the hypothesis that obesity in elderly patients may not be an independent predictor of the incidence of non-TLR, indicating that the management to prevent non-TLR may vary depending on the age of the patient.

The Bioequivalence and Effect of Food on the Pharmacokinetics of a Fixed-Dose Combination Tablet Containing Rosuvastatin and Ezetimibe in Healthy Japanese Subjects

Certain patient populations are unable to achieve the recommended low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol goals with statin monotherapy alone. Such patients may benefit from concomitant therapy with ezetimibe (EZE) 10 mg added on to a statin. To this end, fixed‐dose combination (FDC) tablets containing EZE 10 mg and rosuvastatin (ROS) 2.5 mg (EZE/ROS2.5) and EZE 10 mg and ROS 5 mg (EZE/ROS5) have been developed for treatment of hypercholesterolemia. The purpose of the series of clinical studies reported herein was to evaluate the potential food effect (MK‐0653H, protocol 836 (P836)) and the bioequivalence between FDC and co‐administration of EZE and ROS in healthy Japanese subjects under fasted and fed conditions (MK‐0653H, protocol 835 (P835) and MK‐0653H, protocol 846 (P846), respectively). These studies show there is no clinically relevant food effect on EZE exposure following single oral administration of the FDC EZE/ROS5 in healthy Japanese subjects; however, ROS exposure was decreased in the fed state under conditions used to evaluate the maximum food effect. Following single oral administration of individual ROS tablets under the same conditions, the magnitude of decrease in ROS exposure was comparable to that seen with FDC, suggesting that the effect of food on ROS exposure was similar between the FDC tablet and co‐administration of individual EZE and ROS tablets. The FDC EZE/ROS5 was generally well tolerated in healthy Japanese subjects under fasted and fed conditions.

Pharmacokinetics and exploratory efficacy biomarkers of bococizumab, an anti-PCSK9 monoclonal antibody, in hypercholesterolemic Japanese subjects

Objective: Bococizumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9, has been shown to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Here, we describe the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of bococizumab and its effect on lipoprotein particle composition and other biomarkers, based on a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, dose-ranging study. Materials and methods: The study consisted of two populations: Japanese subjects with uncontrolled LDL-C (LDL-C ≥ 100 mg/dL) despite treatment with atorvastatin (n = 121) and Japanese subjects naïve to lipid-lowering agents with LDL-C ≥ 130 mg/dL (n = 97). Subjects were randomized to receive either bococizumab 50, 100, or 150 mg or placebo, every 2 weeks. One arm of subjects in the atorvastatin-treated population received ezetimibe 10 mg instead of bococizumab. Results: In both populations, bococizumab exposure increased with increasing dose, and subjects with lower body weights tended to have higher exposures. Bococizumab treatment was associated with a dose-dependent reduction in LDL particles and a small increase in total high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles. Significant reductions in lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) were observed for bococizumab-treated subjects but not for subjects treated with placebo or ezetimibe. Conclusion: Increased bococizumab dosage resulted in increased exposure. Levels of LDL and HDL particles and biomarkers such as Lp-PLA2 were also altered with bococizumab treatment. (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02055976).

Efficacy and safety of alirocumab 150mg every 4 weeks in hypercholesterolemic patients on non-statin lipid-lowering therapy or lowest strength dose of statin: ODYSSEY NIPPON

BACKGROUND

Alirocumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody to proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9, given every 2 weeks (Q2W), significantly reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in Japanese hypercholesterolemic patients on background statin. We evaluated alirocumab 150mg every 4 weeks (Q4W) in patients on lowest-dose statin or non-statin lipid-lowering therapy (LLT).

METHODS

ODYSSEY NIPPON was a double-blind study conducted in Japanese patients with LDL-C ≥100mg/dL (heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia or non-familial hypercholesterolemia with coronary heart disease) or ≥120mg/dL (non-familial hypercholesterolemia, Japan Atherosclerosis Society category III) on atorvastatin 5mg/day or non-statin LLT. Patients were randomized (1:1:1) to subcutaneous alirocumab 150mg Q4W, alirocumab 150mg Q2W, or placebo for the 12-week double-blind treatment period (DBTP), followed by a 52-week open-label treatment period (OLTP). At entry into the OLTP, patients received alirocumab 150mg Q4W, with possible up-titration to 150mg Q2W at Week 24.

RESULTS

Least-square mean percent change in LDL-C from baseline at Week 12 (primary efficacy endpoint) was -43.8% for alirocumab Q4W, -70.1% for Q2W, and -4.3% for placebo. During the OLTP, mean LDL-C change from baseline was -45.1% at Week 20, with a further reduction at Week 36, with achieved levels maintained to Week 64. Percent of patients with ≥1 adverse event (DBTP) was 51.9% with alirocumab Q4W, 47.2% with Q2W, and 46.4% with placebo. Most common adverse events were infections and infestations (25.9%, 22.6%, 17.9%, respectively), gastrointestinal disorders (13.0%, 9.4%, 12.5%), nervous system disorders (5.6%, 7.5%, 10.7%), and general disorders and administration-site conditions (3.7%, 11.3%, 5.4%).

CONCLUSIONS

Hypercholesterolemic Japanese patients who tolerate only lowest-strength dose statin or non-statin LLT can achieve robust LDL-C reduction with alirocumab 150mg Q4W, in addition to their current LLT. Alirocumab 150mg Q4W dosing was efficacious and generally well tolerated without new safety concerns. (ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT02584504).

Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Goal Attainment Rates by Initial Statin Monotherapy Among Patients With Dyslipidemia and High Cardiovascular Risk in Japan - A Retrospective Database Analysis

BACKGROUND

To understand the recent management status in Japan, we determined the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goal attainment (GA) rate of patients initiating statin monotherapy for dyslipidemia.Methods and Results:Dyslipidemic patients undergoing either primary prevention with high cardiovascular risk or secondary prevention (defined by 2012 Japan Atherosclerosis Society Guidelines) were retrospectively analyzed from a hospital-based claims database. In both groups, the LDL-C levels and GA rates of patients treated with intensive or standard statin monotherapy for ≥4 weeks (January 2012-August 2016) were evaluated. Among 1,501,013 dyslipidemic patients, 11,695 and 9,642 were included in the primary and secondary prevention groups, respectively. A total of 94% of patients underwent statin monotherapy as the initial lipid-lowering therapy, of which most (≥80%) took intensive statins. The proportions of patients in the primary prevention group who achieved an LDL-C goal <120 mg/dL by intensive and standard statins were 81.1% and 61.2%, respectively, and the proportions of those who achieved a goal <100 mg/dL in the secondary prevention group were 73.3% and 48.1%, respectively. The GA rates were similar regardless of disease complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Most patients (>70%) in both groups achieved LDL-C management goals using intensive statin monotherapy. Further treatment approaches are required for high-risk patients not achieving LDL-C goals by initial statin monotherapy. Continuous efforts are crucial for adherence and persistence of lipid-lowering therapies.

Rationale and Design of Randomized Evaluation of Aggressive or Moderate Lipid Lowering Therapy with Pitavastatin in Coronary Artery Disease (REAL-CAD) Trial

Large-scale clinical trials in patients in Western countries with coronary artery disease (CAD) have found that aggressive lipid-lowering therapy using high-dose statins reduces cardiovascular (CV) events further than low-dose statins. However, such evidence has not yet been fully established in Asian populations, including in Japan. The Randomized Evaluation of Aggressive or Moderate Lipid-Lowering Therapy with Pitavastatin in Coronary Artery Disease (REAL-CAD) study addresses whether intensification of statin therapy improves clinical outcomes in Japanese patients with CAD.REAL-CAD is a prospective, multicenter, randomized, open-label, blinded-endpoint, physician-initiated phase 4 trial in Japan. The study will recruit up to 12,600 patients with stable CAD. Patients are assigned to receive either pitavastatin 1 mg/day or pitavastatin 4 mg/day. LDL-C levels are expected to reach approximate mean values of 100 mg/dL in the low-dose pitavastatin group and 80 mg/dL in the high-dose group. The primary endpoint is the time to occurrence of a major CV event, including CV death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal ischemic stroke, and unstable angina requiring emergency hospitalization during an average of 5 years. The large number of patients and the long follow-up period in the REAL-CAD study should ensure that there is adequate power to definitively determine if reducing LDL-C levels to approximately 80 mg/dL by high-dose statin can provide additional clinical benefit.After the study is completed, we will have categorical evidence on the optimal statin dose and target LDL-C level for secondary prevention in Japanese patients.

Efficacy and safety of alirocumab in patients with hypercholesterolemia not adequately controlled with non-statin lipid-lowering therapy or the lowest strength of statin: ODYSSEY NIPPON study design and rationale

Background

Statins are generally well-tolerated and serious side effects are infrequent, but some patients experience adverse events and reduce their statin dose or discontinue treatment altogether. Alirocumab is a highly specific, fully human monoclonal antibody to proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), which can produce substantial and sustained reductions of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C).

Methods

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, phase 3 ODYSSEY NIPPON study will explore alirocumab 150 mg every 4 weeks (Q4W) in 163 Japanese patients with hypercholesterolemia who are on the lowest-strength dose of atorvastatin (5 mg/day) or are receiving a non-statin lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) (fenofibrate, bezafibrate, ezetimibe, or diet therapy alone). Hypercholesterolemia is defined as LDL-C ≥ 100 mg/dL (2.6 mmol/L) in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia or non-familial hypercholesterolemia with a history of documented coronary heart disease, or ≥120 mg/dL (3.1 mmol/L) in patients with non-familial hypercholesterolemia classified as primary prevention category III (i.e. high-risk patients). During the 12-week double-blind treatment period, patients will be randomized (1:1:1) to receive alirocumab subcutaneously (SC) 150 mg Q4W alternating with placebo for alirocumab Q4W, or alirocumab 150 mg SC every 2 weeks (Q2W), or SC placebo Q2W. The primary efficacy endpoint is the percentage change in calculated LDL-C from baseline to week 12. The long-term safety and tolerability of alirocumab will also be investigated.

Discussion

The ODYSSEY NIPPON study will provide insights into the efficacy and safety of alirocumab 150 mg Q4W or 150 mg Q2W among Japanese patients with hypercholesterolemia who are on the lowest-strength dose of atorvastatin, or are receiving a non-statin LLT (including diet therapy alone).

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT02584504

Efficacy and Safety of Bococizumab (RN316/PF-04950615), a Monoclonal Antibody Against Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9, in Hypercholesterolemic Japanese Subjects Receiving a Stable Dose of Atorvastatin or Treatment-Naive - Results From a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Dose-Ranging Study

BACKGROUND

A Phase 2, dose-ranging study of bococizumab, a monoclonal anti-proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 antibody, was conducted in Japanese subjects to assess its efficacy, safety, and tolerability in this population.Methods and Results:Two different hypercholesterolemic study populations were enrolled concurrently: Japanese subjects with uncontrolled low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) despite atorvastatin treatment (LDL-C ≥100 mg/dL; n=121), and Japanese subjects naive to lipid-lowering agents and with LDL-C ≥130 mg/dL (n=97). Subjects within each study population were randomized to bococizumab 50, 100, or 150 mg, or placebo, q14D for 16 weeks; an open-label ezetimibe 10 mg daily arm was also included for the atorvastatin-treated population. Significant, dose-dependent reductions in fasting LDL-C levels were observed in all bococizumab arms of both study populations at Weeks 12 and 16 (adjusted mean percent changes from baseline: 54.1-76.7% for atorvastatin-treated subjects and 47.7-66.8% for treatment-naive subjects; P<0.001 vs. placebo for all). Bococizumab also caused dose-dependent changes in other lipid parameters in both study populations at Weeks 12 and 16. No serious adverse events (AEs) related to bococizumab treatment occurred and all treatment-emergent AEs were mild or moderate in severity. No dose-dependent relationship between bococizumab treatment and development of anti-drug antibodies was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Bococizumab was well tolerated and significantly reduced fasting LDL-C in atorvastatin-treated and treatment-naive hypercholesterolemic Japanese subjects. (Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT02055976.).

Lipid Management in a Japanese Community:Attainment Rate of Target Set by the Japan Atherosclerosis Society Guidelines for the Prevention of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Diseases 2012

Aim: The Japan Atherosclerosis Society (JAS) guidelines for the prevention of atherosclerotic diseases 2012 (JAS2012) proposed lipid management targets; however, less data is available regarding the attainment rates of each target in community-based settings. Therefore, we assessed the attainment rates of lipid management targets among subjects who underwent Japanese specific health checkups.

Methods: A total of 85,716 subjects (male = 29,282, 34.2%) aged 40–74 years who underwent specific health checkups from 2012 to 2014 in Kanazawa city, Japan, were included in this study. We evaluated the attainment rates of the lipid management targets according to the JAS2012 guideline and investigated the clinical characteristics of the subjects without achieving the targets.

Results: The target for LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) was the least attained in all risk categories, 89, 72, 50, and 34% for category I, II, III, and secondary prevention, respectively, in 2014. In addition, these rates inversely correlated with the grade of risk categories (p-value for trends <0.001). Attainment rate of the LDL-C target in the suspected chronic kidney disease (CKD) group was significantly lower than in the groups with diabetes, stroke, or absolute risk in category III (49.2, 60.3, 63.5, 54.4%, respectively, p-value <0.001 for each). Moreover, the attainment rate of the LDL-C target was significantly lower in subjects that did not receive lipid-lowering therapy than in those who received it in the secondary prevention (27.7 and 40.6%, respectively, p-value <0.001).

Conclusions: Lipid management is inadequate in community-based settings, particularly, in subjects with CKD and secondary prevention.

Control Status of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Risk Factors Among Japanese High-Risk Subjects:Analyses of a Japanese Health Check Database from 2008 to 2011

AIMS

Several guidelines propose target levels (TLs) of atherosclerotic risk factors (ARFs) to reduce atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases; however, few data are available regarding the attainment statuses of TLs in Japan. In this study, utilizing the data obtained from the annual "Specific Health Check and Guidance in Japan" conducted from 2008 to 2011 (approximately 280,000 subjects each year), we determined TL attainments of ARFs in cardiovascular high-risk subjects.

METHODS

Those who had suffered from cerebrovascular disease (pCVD) or coronary heart disease (pCHD) or were receiving diabetes mellitus treatment (DM) were selected, and the rates of subjects that attained TLs of blood pressure (BP), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TGs) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were analyzed.

RESULTS

Approximately 70% of pCVD or pCHD and 35% of subjects with DM attained TLs of BP. With regard to HbA1c, ＞90% of pCVD or pCHD and approximately 50% of subjects with DM attained TLs. With regard to LDL-C, ＜25% of pCHD females and approximately 35% of pCHD males and 50%-55% of subjects with pCVD or DM attained TLs. The TL-attainment rates of HDL-C and TGs were approximately 90% and 75%, respectively, for the three diseases. Analyses of time course changes in their attainment statuses revealed that the attainment rates of BP and LDL-C significantly improved in all the diseases.

CONCLUSIONS

TL-attainment rates of BP and LDL-C were not as high as those for HDL-C, TGs, and HbA1c; however, they both showed highly significant improvements during the study period.

Serum Lipid Goal Attainment in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Patients under the Japan Atherosclerosis Society (JAS) 2012 Guidelines

AIM

According to the Japan Atherosclerosis Society 2012 guidelines (JAS2012-GL), chronic kidney disease (CKD) has newly been added to the high-risk group in terms of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. We therefore explored the lipid target level achievement rates under the JAS2012-GL in real-world clinical practice.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of patients who were hospitalized at the Nephrology Department at Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital in the period from April 1, 2012 to May 31, 2013 and explored the serum lipid target level achievement rates. Patients without lipid data or those undergoing regular dialysis because of chronic renal failure were excluded. In this study, the CKD group (CKD-G) did not include CKD patients under secondary prevention for coronary heart disease (CHD) or diabetes mellitus (DM).

RESULTS

The CKD-G included 146 (81.1%) of the 180 enrolled patients. According to the JAS2012-GL, 100% of the CKD-G patients were categorized into the high-risk group, although only 12.1% of the CKD-G subjects were at high risk according to the JAS2007-GL. Under the JAS2012-GL, the LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) and non-HDL cholesterol (non-HDL-C) target level achievement rates for CKD-G were 71.4% and 68.1%, respectively. According to the JAS2007-GL, these rates were 81.3% and 79.1%, respectively, and, under both guidelines, these rates were 71.7% and 72.1% for primary prevention DM and 66.7% and 66.7% for CHD, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

After the revision of the JAS-GL in 2012, the LDL-C and non-HDL-C target level achievement rates for CKD-G were reduced by approximately 10%; however, they remained similar to those for DM and higher than those for CHD.

Rationale and design of a randomized clinical study to investigate the effect of ezetimibe, a cholesterol absorption inhibitor, on the regression of intracoronary plaque evaluated by non-obstructive angioscopy and ultrasound: The ZIPANGU study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It is well recognized that low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)-lowering therapy is effective for primary and secondary prevention of cerebrovascular/cardiovascular disease. Ezetimibe, an inhibitor of the Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1 cholesterol transporter, is a relatively new drug for LDL-C-lowering therapy in addition to statins. However, comparison between an aggressive LDL-C-lowering therapy with a combination of statin and ezetimibe versus a standard LDL-C-lowering therapy with statin alone is still unclear in terms of their effects on stabilization and volume regression of coronary plaque. The ZIPANGU (Ezetimibe clinical investigation for the regression of intracoronary plaque evaluated by angioscopy and ultrasound) study is aimed at comparing these two types of therapy based on indices of plaque characteristics using non-obstructive coronary angioscopy and intravascular ultrasound.

METHODS

The study is a multi-center, prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded-endpoint trial. Through a centralized enrollment method, patients will be allocated to either monotherapy with atorvastatin alone or to combination therapy with atorvastatin (maximum: 20mg/day) and ezetimibe (10mg/day). The target LDL-C level will be <100mg/dL for the monotherapy group and <70mg/dL for the combination therapy group. At the baseline and the follow-up period of 9 months, non-obstructive coronary angioscopy and intravascular ultrasound will be performed to compare the changes in plaque color and volume between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The ZIPANGU study will clarify whether combination therapy with statins and ezetimibe is better for stabilizing coronary plaque as secondary prevention than monotherapy by statins alone. The study will give new insights into lipid-lowering guidelines in Japan.

Second-line treatments for dyslipidemia in patients at risk of cardiovascular disease

Previous studies have shown that approximately 50% patients at risk of cardiovascular disease do not achieve lipid management goals. Thus, improvements dyslipidemia management are needed. We investigated the clinical choice and efficacy of second-line treatments for dyslipidemia in the Japanese clinical setting. Using a retrospective cohort design, we collected lipid profile data from patients who had been treated with hypolipidemic agents at a stable dosage for at least 12 weeks. These patients had then been administered a second-line treatment for dyslipidemia because they had not achieved the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) management goals. We included data from 641 patients in our analysis. The top three choices for second-line treatment were adding ezetimibe, switching to strong statins (statin switching), and doubling the original statin dosage (statin doubling). Adding ezetimibe, statin switching, and statin doubling decreased LDL-C levels by 28.2 ± 14.5%, 23.2 ± 24.4%, and 23.5 ± 17.2%, respectively. Among these three strategies, adding ezetimibe decreased LDL-C levels to the maximum extent. In patients with dysglycemia, baseline-adjusted change in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels decreased slightly in the adding-ezetimibe, statin-switching, and statin-doubling groups, but the differences were not statistically significant among the groups (-0.10 ± 0.62%, -0.22 ± 0.54%, and -0.12 ± 0.52%, p = 0.19). In conclusion, the most common second-line treatment options for dyslipidemia were adding ezetimibe, statin switching, or statin doubling. Adding ezetimibe resulted in the highest reduction in LDL-C levels. These strategies did not increase HbA1c levels when administered with conventional diabetes treatment.

Statin use in patients with diabetes and kidney disease: the Japanese experience

Diabetes is a leading cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in developed nations, including Japan and the United States. Japan has the unenviable distinction of having one of the world's highest rates of dialysis: in 2011, there were over 300,000 dialysis patients (2,383 per million people), with diabetic patients accounting for almost half of all incident cases. Concomitance of CKD and diabetes predicts a greater risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) than either condition in isolation. Hence, appropriate management of modifiable cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, including dyslipidemia, is paramount in this high-risk group. The United States and Japan have distinct approaches to cholesterol management, with more stringent therapeutic targets for lipid control advocated in US guidelines. However, upward trends in cholesterol levels and coronary heart disease incidence in Japan may provide justification for more intensive CV risk factor management strategies by Japanese physicians to achieve maximum benefit. Attainment of recommended lipid goals in Japan is poor, particularly in patients with diabetes and/or CKD in whom CV risk factors are often undertreated. Statin therapy has been shown to be safe and effective in reducing CV risk in patients with diabetes and/or CKD stages 1-5. Moreover, statins may impart a renoprotective effect by preventing or delaying progressive loss of kidney function. This review summarizes evidence from studies in Western and Japanese populations to highlight the CV and renal benefits of lipid-lowering agents in CKD patients, including those with diabetes.