Another Lipid-Lowering Drug May Reduce VTE Risk

Clinical Takeaway

: Bempedoic acid was associated with fewer venous thromboembolism events in patients unable or unwilling to take statins.

Context

In a prespecified analysis of the randomized, placebo-controlled JUPITER trial, rosuvastatin 20 mg once daily significantly reduced symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE). Researchers now explore whether a newer lipid-lowering therapy, bempedoic acid, can reduce VTE risk. Bempedoic acid lowers LDL cholesterol by reducing cholesterol synthesis upstream of HMG-Coa reductase, the enzyme that statins inhibit.

The researchers conducted a post hoc analysis of the industry-funded CLEAR Outcomes trial, in which 14,000 “statin-intolerant” adults (mean age, 66 years; 9% receiving systemic anticoagulation at baseline) with or at high risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease were randomized to bempedoic acid or placebo. Very-low-dose sta…

Reviewing Author

Behnood Bikdeli, M.D., M.S.

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportBrigham and Women’s Hospital; American Heart Association and VIVA Physicians

Editorial BoardsThrombosis Research; Thrombosis and Haemostasis; Journal of the American College of Cardiology

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesSociety for Vascular Medicine (Research, Quality, and Publications Committee member); International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis