13 Apr 2023 • A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial evaluated the effect of bempedoic acid on cardiovascular outcomes in patients who could not tolerate statins due to adverse effects. The trial involved 13,970 patients who were at high risk for cardiovascular disease or had established disease.

Patients were assigned to receive either bempedoic acid (180 mg daily) or placebo, and followed up for a median of 40.6 months. The primary endpoint was a composite of major adverse cardiovascular events, including death from cardiovascular causes, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or coronary revascularization.

The results showed that bempedoic acid significantly reduced the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events compared to placebo. It also decreased the incidence of a composite of death from cardiovascular causes, nonfatal stroke, or nonfatal myocardial infarction, fatal or nonfatal myocardial infarction, and coronary revascularization.

However, it had no significant effects on fatal or nonfatal stroke, death from cardiovascular causes, and death from any cause. The incidence of gout and cholelithiasis was higher with bempedoic acid than with placebo, as were small increases in serum creatinine, uric acid, and hepatic-enzyme levels.

Source: NEJM | Read full article