Bempedoic acid: new evidence and recommendations on use : Current Opinion in Lipidology (original) (raw)

SPECIAL COMMENTARY

Paponja, Kristinaa; Pećin, Ivana,b; Reiner, Željkoa,c; Banach, Maciejc,d,e

aUniversity Hospital Center Zagreb, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolic Diseases

bZagreb School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

cDepartment of Cardiology and Congenital Diseases of Adults, Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital Research Institute

dDepartment of Preventive Cardiology and Lipidology, Medical University of Lodz (MUL), Lodz, Poland

eCiccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Correspondence to Prof. Maciej Banach, MD, PhD, FNLA, FAHA, FESC, FASA, Head, Department of Preventive Cardiology and Lipidology, Medical University of Lodz (MUL), Rzgowska 281/289, 93–338 Lodz, Poland. Tel: +48 42 639 37 71; fax: +48 42 639 37 71; e-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Purposes of review

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Recognizing the importance of dyslipidemia treatment in the prevention of cardiovascular events has become a part of standard clinical practice. Desired values of LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) have become lower and lower in the last few decades, as evidenced by the most recent guidelines. Therefore, efforts to lower LDL cholesterol concentrations with conventional therapies and combinations of lipid-lowering therapy may not be successful in a high proportion of patients.

Recent findings

Bempedoic acid is a novel agent, first in-class ATP Citrate Lyase (ACL) inhibitor, which targets biosynthesis of the cholesterol in the liver. Considering the results of phase 3 studies, it has been approved for sole use for dyslipidemia treatment for patients who are statin-intolerant or in combination with statin-ezetimibe for those suffering from familial hypercholesterolemia or ASCVD and unable to reach targeted LDL-C values.

Summary

Bempedoic acid has proven beneficial for further reduction of LDL cholesterol for targeted groups of patients. It is not only efficient but also a well tolerated, affordable, and available agent whose place in lipid-lowering management is yet to be fully understood with new data collected from ongoing clinical research. In this review we suggest the place of bempedoic acid in lipid-lowering management.