EVOlocumab for Early Reduction of LDL-cholesterol Levels in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes (EVOPACS)

Summary

Reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels effectively reduces the risk of adverse events in patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The clinical benefit of statins in improving clinical outcomes is proportional to the magnitude of LDL-C reduction, is more pronounced in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) compared with stable coronary artery disease, and emerges at very early stages (as early as 4 weeks) after ACS when statins are administered in the acute phase of the event. On the basis of this evidence, early initiation of statin therapy is currently recommended in patients presenting with ACS. Because many patients cannot achieve adequate reduction of LDL-C levels despite treatment with high doses of statins or non-statin lipid-modifying medications, substantial residual risk remains. Moreover, the time of onset of LDL-C reduction takes 2 weeks following initiation of statin therapy. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type-9 (PCSK9) inhibitors represent a novel class of lipid-lowering drugs leading to rapid, profound, and consistent reductions in LDL-C levels. While the effectiveness of PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies for LDL-C lowering has been established across patient populations without atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or with stable ischemic heart disease, reduction and attainment of LDL-C target levels has not been explored in the acute setting of ACS - a clinical setting with highest risk of early event recurrence (within the first month). In this study the investigators want to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the PCSK9 inhibitor evolocumab as compared with placebo, administered in the acute phase of ACS, for reduction of LDL-C levels within 8 weeks in patients receiving guideline-recommended high-intensity statin treatment (atorvastatin 40mg QD).

Timeline

Start

2018-01-23

Primary completion

2019-05-20

Completion

2019-08-07

Publications

• Results Sabatine MS, Giugliano RP, Keech AC, Honarpour N, Wiviott SD, Murphy SA, Kuder JF, Wang H, Liu T, Wasserman SM, Sever PS, Pedersen TR; FOURIER Steering Committee and Investigators. Evolocumab and Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease. N Engl J Med. 2017 May 4;376(18):1713-1722. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1615664. Epub 2017 Mar 17.
• Results Lipinski MJ, Benedetto U, Escarcega RO, Biondi-Zoccai G, Lhermusier T, Baker NC, Torguson R, Brewer HB Jr, Waksman R. The impact of proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9 serine protease inhibitors on lipid levels and outcomes in patients with primary hypercholesterolaemia: a network meta-analysis. Eur Heart J. 2016 Feb 7;37(6):536-45. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehv563. Epub 2015 Nov 17.
• Results Ray KK, Cannon CP, McCabe CH, Cairns R, Tonkin AM, Sacks FM, Jackson G, Braunwald E; PROVE IT-TIMI 22 Investigators. Early and late benefits of high-dose atorvastatin in patients with acute coronary syndromes: results from the PROVE IT-TIMI 22 trial. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2005 Oct 18;46(8):1405-10. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2005.03.077.
• Results Schwartz GG, Olsson AG, Ezekowitz MD, Ganz P, Oliver MF, Waters D, Zeiher A, Chaitman BR, Leslie S, Stern T; Myocardial Ischemia Reduction with Aggressive Cholesterol Lowering (MIRACL) Study Investigators. Effects of atorvastatin on early recurrent ischemic events in acute coronary syndromes: the MIRACL study: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2001 Apr 4;285(13):1711-8. doi: 10.1001/jama.285.13.1711.
• Results Navarese EP, Kolodziejczak M, Kereiakes DJ, Tantry US, O'Connor C, Gurbel PA. Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 Monoclonal Antibodies for Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Narrative Review. Ann Intern Med. 2016 May 3;164(9):600-7. doi: 10.7326/M15-2994. Epub 2016 Mar 22.
• Koskinas KC, Windecker S, Pedrazzini G, Mueller C, Cook S, Matter CM, Muller O, Haner J, Gencer B, Crljenica C, Amini P, Deckarm O, Iglesias JF, Raber L, Heg D, Mach F. Evolocumab for Early Reduction of LDL Cholesterol Levels in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes (EVOPACS). J Am Coll Cardiol. 2019 Nov 19;74(20):2452-2462. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2019.08.010. Epub 2019 Aug 31.

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