Efficacy of alirocumab in high cardiovascular risk populations with or without heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia: Pooled analysis of eight ODYSSEY Phase 3 clinical program trials

Abstract

Objectives: Despite maximally tolerated statin therapy, many patients with high cardiovascular risk, with or without heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia may require additional low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction. We report pooled alirocumab (ALI) efficacy and safety data from eight Phase 3 trials in 4629 hypercholesterolemia patients, receiving background statin therapy.

Material and methods: Studies were pooled by ALI dose and control: ALI 75/150mg every 2weeks (Q2W; dose increased to 150mg Q2W at Week 12 based on Week 8 LDL-C) versus ezetimibe (EZE; Pool 1) or placebo (PBO; Pool 2), and ALI 150mg Q2W versus PBO (Pool 3).

Results: Mean baseline LDL-C was 109 vs. 105mg/dL (Pool 1), 129 vs. 130mg/dL (Pool 2) and 126 vs. 125mg/dL (Pool 3). ALI 75/150mg Q2W reduced LDL-C by 48.9% (vs. -19.3% EZE) and 48.6% (vs. +4.2% PBO) from baseline to Week 24, and ALI 150mg Q2W reduced LDL-C by 60.4% (vs. +0.5% PBO; all p<0.0001). LDL-C reductions were sustained to Week 104. Risk-based LDL-C goals (<70mg/dL or <100mg/dL) were achieved by 78.0%, 75.2%, and 79.0% (Pool 1-3) of ALI-treated patients (vs. 52.4%, 6.4%, and 8.4%, respectively, for controls) at Week 24. Consistent reductions were observed in apolipoprotein B, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and lipoprotein (a) (p<0.0001 vs. control). Common adverse events in ALI-treated patients were nasopharyngitis, injection-site reactions, upper respiratory tract infections, and influenza.

Conclusions: Alirocumab treatment significantly reduced LDL-C in high cardiovascular risk patients, enabling most to achieve risk-based LDL-C goals.

Keywords: Alirocumab; Hypercholesterolemia; Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.