ATP Citrate Lyase Inhibition with Bempedoic Acid Lowers LDL

But signals of harm are seen in a clinical trial.

ATP citrate lyase is an enzyme in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway just upstream from 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme-A (HMG-CoA) reductase, the target of statins. In two industry-funded studies, researchers examined possible associations between inhibition of ATP citrate lyase and beneficial outcomes.

In a Mendelian randomization study, Ference and colleagues used genetic material from 654,783 people to create genetic risk scores composed of independently inherited variants in the ATP citrate lyase gene (ACLY) and the HMG-CoA reductase gene (HMGCR). These risk scores were meant to mimic the effect of ATP citrate lyase inhibitors and HMGCR inhibitors (statins). The two scores were associated with similar reductions in plasma lipids a…

Reviewing Author

Karol E. Watson, MD, PhD, FACC

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBoehringer Ingelheim; Amgen; Novartis; Lilly; Amarin

Speaker’s BureauBoehringer Ingelheim

Grant/Research SupportNIH

Editorial BoardsCirculation (Associate Editor)