Lipoprotein(a) is a special type of bad
cholesterol that is believed to contribute to heart disease, but there are no
approved pharmacological therapies to decrease its concentration in the
bloodstream. Olpasiran is an investigational drug that reduces lipoprotein(a) concentration
by degrading the RNA that codes for a protein that is an essential part of the
molecule.
Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital conducted
a phase 2, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial of olpasiran in
patients with established cardiovascular disease to evaluate its safety and
tolerability and to identify an optimal dose of olpasiran for reducing
lipoprotein(a) levels.
The trial included 227 patients who
received one of four doses of olpasiran and 54 who received a placebo. They
found that patients who received higher doses of olpasiran had more than a 95%
drop in lipoprotein(a) over 36 weeks compared to placebo. The treatment was not
associated with serious side effects apart from occasional injection site
swelling and related mild reactions.
Researchers said these study results show
that marked and sustained reduction of lipoprotein(a) is possible through RNA
interference using olpasiran, These findings set the stage for a much larger
phase 3 trial to definitively evaluate if lowering lipoprotein(a) translates
into better outcomes.
Researchers concluded that olpasiran is a
very promising therapy for individuals with high lipoprotein(a) levels who
currently don’t have any effective therapies to lower its concentration.
Reference:
Clinical trial finds novel
therapy markedly reduced lipoprotein(a) levels in people with cardiovascular
disease; BRIGHAM AND WOMEN’S HOSPITAL, JOURNAL: New England Journal of Medicine