Real-world data on metabolic effects of PCSK9 inhibitors in a tertiary care center in patients with and without diabetes mellitus

PCSK9 inhibitors in real life-Cardiometabolic risk management in dyslipidemic patients in Vienna

BACKGROUND

Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors have emerged as important therapeutic options for patients unable to achieve the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‑C) target or to tolerate alternative lipid-lowering agents. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of PCSK9 inhibitor treatment in tertiary routine care, by determining the percentage of patients reaching individual LDL‑C target levels 1 year after treatment initiation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients routinely started on PCSK9 inhibitors at our lipid clinic between 2017 and 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Attainment of the LDL‑C target, utilization of follow-ups, cardiovascular events and effects on laboratory parameters were investigated.

RESULTS

In this study 347 patients were included, with the majority managed in secondary prevention (94.5%). The LDL‑C target was achieved by 44.9% after ca. 14 months, with differences between statin users and non-users (51.0% vs. 22.7%; p < 0.001). The median LDL‑C decreased from 126.00 mg/dL at baseline to 48 mg/dL (-61.6%; -77.00 mg/dL; p < 0.001) after ~2 months and to 60 mg/dL (-52.9%; -59.00 mg/dL; p < 0.001) after ~14 months. Median lipoprotein(a) levels decreased significantly from 184.0 nmol/L to 165.5 nmol/L (-25.9%; -25.5 nmol/L; p = 0.001) after ~2 months, whereas no effects on creatine kinase, amylase and lipase were detectable. Of the patients 15% utilized 4 follow-ups. The PCSK9 inhibitor intolerance occurred in 3.5% of patients.

CONCLUSION

With the effect of LDL-lowering remaining constant over 14 months, PCSK9 inhibitor treatment showed effective and sustainable LDL‑C lowering in a majority of patients in secondary prevention, bringing them closer to the recommended LDL‑C goal, particularly those under concomitant statin medication. Treatment with PCSK9 inhibitors appears to be well-tolerated, confirming data from clinical trials in real life.

Effects of PCSK9 inhibitors on cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors (PCSK9i) have potential applications in cancer therapy and as cholesterol-lowering treatments. The impact of PCSK9 suppression on both tumor growth and metastasis, as well as the management of diabetes, has been demonstrated. PCSK9i can also enhance outcomes and reduce cardiovascular (CV) events in individuals with a history of such events. In this review, we provide insights into the pharmacology, safety, and impact of PCSK9i. We highlight cutting-edge investigations, the development of innovative PCSK9i-based products, and a more comprehensive understanding of the potential effects of these drugs on cancer, diabetes, and CV and cerebrovascular diseases.

Efficacy and safety of PCSK9 inhibitors in real life

OBJECTIVE

To confirm the effectiveness and safety of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors in daily clinical practice.

METHODS

Retrospective observational study of patients from hospital registry of PCSK9 inhibitor treatment with a follow-up ≥ 6 months. The lipid-lowering effect and safety were evaluated.

RESULTS

Of the 193 patients included in the study, 168 (87%) had cardiovascular disease, and 54 (28%) had familial hypercholesterolemia; 85 (44%) were intolerant to statins/ezetimibe. No differences between alirocumab and evolocumab groups regarding the rate of LDL-C reduction ≥ 50% (82.8% vs. 83.1%), achievement of the therapeutic target (60.9% vs. 65.5%), or complete remission (60.2% vs. 58.5%) were found. An erythema at the injection site in one patient treated with alirocumab and urticaria in one patient treated with evolocumab were recorded. According to the logistic regression analysis, complete remission of LDL-C in subjects treated with PCSK9 inhibitors was positively associated with increased age (OR: 1.045; 95%CI: 1.0-1.092; P=.049) and active smoking (OR: 4.562; 95%CI: 1.434-14.515; P=.010), and negatively associated with female gender (OR: 0.403; 95%CI: 0.171-0.949; P=.038), baseline LDL-C levels (OR: 0.969; 95%CI: 0.957-0.981; P<.001)and statin/ezetimibe intolerance (OR: 0.403; 95%CI: 0.176-0.925; P=.041).

CONCLUSION

This real-world practice study has confirmed that PCSK9 inhibitors are effective, safe and well tolerated, with lipid-lowering effects comparable to those described in randomized controlled trials, regardless of the monoclonal antibody used.

First clinical experiences with inclisiran in a real-world setting

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Inclisiran is the first-in-class small interfering RNA (siRNA) proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor. In clinical trials inclisiran showed effective and sustained low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction of ± 50 %. As data in clinical setting are scarce, we aim to investigate the efficacy and safety in clinical practice.

METHODS

We describe a registry of consecutive patients who started with inclisiran at a lipid clinic of a university hospital. Patients were eligible if they fulfilled the reimbursement criteria in the Netherlands. Patients were included if they started with inclisiran as first line (group 1) or switched from PCSK9 monoclonal antibody (mAbs) to inclisiran (group 2). LDL-C levels were measured at 3 and 9 months after initiation of inclisiran. Median change of LDL-C levels was calculated on an individual and group level.

RESULTS

We analysed 65 patients (36 women), median [25th percentile; 75th percentile] age of 63 [54; 68] years. Of these, 44 patients had both a 3 month and 9 month visit. At 3 months, patients who newly started inclisiran (group 1, n = 45) showed a LDL-C decrease of 38 [-49;-33] %. Patients who used statins as co-medication (n = 15) had a higher median LDL-C decrease compared to those without statin use (n=30; 45 % vs 38 %). However, patients who switched from mAbs to inclisiran (group 2, n = 20) had an increase in LDL-C of 38 [+4; +97] %. Adverse effects associated with inclisiran were mild and consisted of mild injection site reactions. Efficacy was slightly less whereas safety results were similar at 9 months.

CONCLUSION

Our initial experience of inclisiran in a clinical setting showed less reduction in LDL-C levels compared to clinical trials but a similar safety profile. Moreover, patients who switched from PCSK9 mAbs to inclisiran generally showed an increase in LDL-C levels implying that inclisiran is less potent in LDL-C reduction compared to PCSK9 mAbs.

PCSK9 Inhibitor Use and Outcomes Using Concomitant Lipid-Lowering Therapies in the Veterans Health Administration

Background

Real-world data on use of PCSK9 inhibitors (PCSK9-Is), with or without statins and/or ezetimibe, and associated outcomes, can inform more effective prescribing. The objective was to evaluate clinical effectiveness and safety of PCSK9-Is within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, we included Veterans who had at least one outpatient prescription for alirocumab and/or evolocumab filled within VHA between August 21, 2015, and September 30, 2020. Analyses included 4 mutually exclusive subgroups: PCSK9-I alone, PCSK9-I+statin, PCSK9-I+ezetimibe, and PCSK9-I+statin+ezetimibe subgroups. Primary outcomes included medication possession ratio, persistence, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL).

Results

Among Veterans in the analytical cohort (n = 2428), 36.2% were on PCSK9-I monotherapy; 24.0% received a PCSK9-I+statin; 27.4% were on a PCSK9-I+ezetimibe; and 12.4% received triple therapy, that is, PCSK9-I+statin+ezetimibe. The mean medication possession ratio (standard deviation [SD]) for PCSK9-I monotherapy was 83.8% (13.3) compared to 84.3% (11.2) with PCSK9-I+statin therapy, 87.1% (10.1) with PCSK9-I+ezetimibe therapy, and 85.8% (11.7) with triple therapy. The percentage of patients who discontinued PCSK9-I in the monotherapy subgroup was 12.3% vs 9.5%, 6.6%, and 7.4% in the concomitant statin, ezetimibe, and triple-therapy subgroups, respectively (p = .002 among the groups). Mean LDL level was greater in the PCSK9-I monotherapy subgroup (85.6 mg/dL) compared with the concomitant statin (66.5 mg/dL), ezetimibe (65.7 mg/dL), and triple-therapy subgroups (68.1 mg/dL).

Conclusions

Veterans showed good adherence and/or persistence with PCSK9-I regimens. On average, those receiving concomitant therapy with a statin and/or ezetimibe achieved significantly lower LDL levels.

Morphologies and composition changes in nonculprit subclinical atherosclerosis in diabetic versus nondiabetic patients with acute coronary syndrome who underwent long-term statin therapy

Although patients are undergoing similar lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) with statins, the outcomes of coronary plaque in diabetic mellitus (DM) and non-DM patients are different. Clinical data of 239 patients in this observational study with acute coronary syndrome was from our previous randomized trial were analyzed at 3 years, and 114 of them underwent OCT detection at baseline and the 1-year follow-up were re-anlayzed by a novel artificial intelligence imaging software for nonculprit subclinical atherosclerosis (nCSA). Normalized total atheroma volume changes (ΔTAVn) of nCSA were the primary endpoint. Plaque progression (PP) was defined as any increase in ΔTAVn. DM patients showed more PP in nCSA (ΔTAVn; 7.41 (- 2.82, 11.85) mm³ vs. - 1.12 (- 10.67, 9.15) mm³, p = 0.009) with similar reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) from baseline to 1-year. The main reason is that the lipid component in nCSA increases in DM patients and non-significantly decreases in non-DM patients, which leads to a significantly higher lipid TAVn (24.26 (15.05, 40.12) mm³ vs. 16.03 (6.98, 26.54) mm³, p = 0.004) in the DM group than in the non-DM group at the 1-year follow-up. DM was an independent predictor of PP in multivariate logistic regression analysis (OR = 2.731, 95% CI 1.160-6.428, p = 0.021). Major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) related to nCSA at 3 years were higher in the DM group than in the non-DM group (9.5% vs. 1.7%, p = 0.027). Despite a comparable reduction in LDL-C levels after LLT, more PP with an increase in the lipid component of nCSA and a higher incidence of MACEs at the 3-year follow-up was observed in DM patients.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov. identifier: NCT02140801.

Real-World Data on Comparison of Lipid-Lowering Effects between Alirocumab and Evolocumab in Patients with Hypercholesterolemia

BACKGROUND

Even though the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors, alirocumab and evolocumab, have been approved to reduce plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in high-risk patients, real-world data showing comparisons of the lipid-lowering effects between alirocumab and evolocumab are scarce because of the low prescription rates of PCSK9 inhibitors in clinical practice.

METHODS

Between Feb 2018 and Sep 2021, 22 patients who received alirocumab and 22 patients who received evolocumab at a tertiary medical center were enrolled. The patients' baseline characteristics, prescribed medications, plasma LDL-C levels, and percentages of reduction in LDL-C were compared between alirocumab users and evolocumab users.

RESULTS

The alirocumab users more frequently received ezetimibe treatment (72.7% vs. 40.9%, p = 0.03) and had higher baseline LDL-C (165.6 ± 63.2 mg/dL vs. 130.8 ± 56.3 mg/dL, p = 0.04) compared with the evolocumab users. At 6 months of follow-up, the plasma LDL-C levels in the alirocumab users were similar to those in the evolocumab users (79.3 ± 64.0 mg/dL vs. 63.5 ± 44.1 mg/dL, p = 0.48). Additionally, the percentages of LDL-C reduction following treatment were similar between the alirocumab users and evolocumab users (-47.0% ± 45.0% vs. -49.8 ± 24.9%, p = 0.66).

CONCLUSIONS

The LDL-C lowering effects of alirocumab are similar to those of evolocumab in clinical practice.

Evolocumab on top of empagliflozin improves endothelial function of individuals with diabetes: randomized active-controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) improve endothelial dysfunction and reduce cardiovascular events in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9i) inhibitors reduce cardiovascular events in high-risk patients. Whether the addition of PCSK9i to SGLT2i treatment adds benefits is not known.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the PCSK9-i effect on the endothelial function of T2D individuals under treatment with SGLT2-i.

METHODS

Individuals with T2D were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to a 16-week treatment with either empagliflozin (E) or empagliflozin plus evolocumab (EE). The primary endpoint was post-treatment change from baseline in flow-mediated dilation (FMD) at 1-min. Secondary outcomes included changes in plasma levels of nitric oxide metabolites and isoprostane.

RESULTS

A total of 110 patients were enrolled, the mean age was 58 years, and 71% were men. The median post-treatment change in FMD at 1-min was 2.7% (interquartile range [IQR]: 0.9%) and 0.4% (IQR: 0.9%) in the EE and E groups, respectively (p < 0.001). There was a greater increase in plasma levels of nitrate [5.9 (16.5) vs. 2.6 (11.8); p = 0.001] and nitrite [0.14 (0.72) vs. 0.02 (0.74); p = 0.025] in the EE group than in the E group, respectively. Isoprostane reduction was more pronounced in the EE group when compared to the E group [-1.7 (5.9) vs. -1.1 (5.3); p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In individuals with T2D, the addition of evolocumab on top of empagliflozin improves endothelial function.

PCSK9 inhibitors for secondary prevention in patients with cardiovascular diseases: a bayesian network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The Food and Drug Administration has approved Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors for the treatment of dyslipidemia. However, evidence of the optimal PCSK9 agents targeting PCSK9 for secondary prevention in patients with high-risk of cardiovascular events is lacking. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the benefit and safety of different types of PCSK9 inhibitors.

METHODS

Several databases including Cochrane Central, Ovid Medline, and Ovid Embase were searched from inception until March 30, 2022 without language restriction. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing administration of PCSK9 inhibitors with placebo or ezetimibe for secondary prevention of cardiovascular events in patients with statin-background therapy were identified. The primary efficacy outcome was all-cause mortality. The primary safety outcome was serious adverse events.

RESULTS

Overall, nine trials totaling 54,311 patients were identified. Three types of PCSK9 inhibitors were evaluated. The use of alirocumab was associated with reductions in all-cause mortality compared with control (RR 0.83, 95% CrI 0.72-0.95). Moreover, evolocumab was associated with increased all-cause mortality compared with alirocumab (RR 1.26, 95% CrI 1.04-1.52). We also found alirocumab was associated with decreased risk of serious adverse events (RR 0.94, 95% CrI 0.90-0.99).

CONCLUSIONS

In consideration of the fact that both PCSK9 monoclonal antibody and inclisiran enable patients to achieve recommended LDL-C target, the findings in this meta-analysis suggest that alirocumab might provide the optimal benefits regarding all-cause mortality with relatively lower SAE risks, and evolocumab might provide the optimal benefits regarding myocardial infarction for secondary prevention in patients with high-risk of cardiovascular events. Further head-to-head trials with longer follow-up and high methodologic quality are warranted to help inform subsequent guidelines for the management of these patients.

Safety, adherence and efficacy of PCSK9 inhibitors: a retrospective real-world study

Introduction

PCSK9 inhibitors demonstrated their effectiveness in reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and cardiovascular events in landmark trials. It remains unclear whether the results can be translated to Asian populations. This study was designed to assess the real-world safety, adherence and efficacy of PCSK9 inhibitors.

Methods

A retrospective review for patients newly initiated on PCSK9 inhibitors between 1st June 2017 and 31st July 2021 was conducted in a tertiary cardiology centre. Patients aged ≥ 21 years with a minimum one-month follow-up were included. Adverse drug reactions (ADRs), drug discontinuation, adherence patterns and efficacy between evolocumab and alirocumab groups were compared. Multivariable and propensity score adjusted Cox regression analyses were applied to analyse the outcomes.

Results

Of 87 patients screened, 80 (51 evolocumab; 29 alirocumab) were included. There were no significant differences between evolocumab and alirocumab groups in ADRs (11.8% vs 3.4%, adjusted HR, 2.97; 95% CI, 0.34 – 25.89 in multivariable analysis; adjusted HR, 3.24; 95% CI, 0.38–27.69 after propensity score adjustment) and discontinuation rates (27.5% vs 34.5%, adjusted HR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.40–2.02 in multivariable analysis; adjusted HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.39–1.99 after propensity score adjustment). High medication cost was the main reason for discontinuation. One-third of patients had inadequate adherence to PCSK9 inhibitors. Both groups showed significant reductions of LDL-C compared to baseline.

Conclusions

PCSK9 inhibitors are efficacious, safe and well tolerated. Further studies are warranted to examine the cost-effectiveness of PCSK9 inhibitors to rationalise their sustainable use for cardiovascular prevention.