Cholesterol pill helps people at high risk of heart attack and stroke: study

An international study led by Monash has revealed that a hypocholesterolemian drug can offer a more effective and practical means of protecting people at high risk from heart attack and stroke.

The “Broadway” clinical trial has tested an oral drug once a day called Obitrapib, and found that it had considerably reduced LDL cholesterol and lipoprotein (A), (LP (A)), two key contributors to cardiovascular disease.

The results of the Broadway phase 3 test were presented by the Stephen Nicholls Stephen Nicholls study, director of the Victorian Heart Institute of Monash University and the Victorian Heart Hospital of Monash Health as a clinical study of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Professor Nicholls said the results have marked an important step forward for patients who had trouble achieving their cholesterol goals with current therapies.

“We know that many people at high risk of heart attack or stroke do not obtain their sufficiently low cholesterol levels, even on the best available treatments,” said Professor Nicholls.

“The Obletrapib offers a promising new option – it only lowers LDL cholesterol by more than 30%, but we have also seen a reduction in LP (A), which is much more difficult to treat and has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease.”

LDL cholesterol, often called “bad cholesterol”, accumulates in blood vessels and increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. Lipoprotein (A), or LP (A), is a less known but hereditary risk factor which can also speed up damage to arteries – and unlike LDL, there is currently no widely approved treatment to lower it.

In the Broadway trial, more than 2,500 participants with established heart disease or high genetic cholesterol have received the Ouvertapib or a placebo, in addition to their ordinary cholesterol medications. After 12 weeks, people on the Ouvétrapib had dropped their LDL cholesterol of 32.6% and LP (A) of 33.5% on average – many have reached targets recommended by directives for the first time.

The Obletrapib was also well tolerated, with a safety profile similar to previous tests.

“This could be a precious tool in the fight against heart disease,” said Professor Nicholls. “It’s practical, it’s effective and it can help fill the gap for patients who no longer have options.”