A fixed-dose combination of the ATP citrate lyase inhibitor bempedoic acid (Esperion Therapeutics) and ezetimibe (Zetia, Merck/Schering-Plough) substantially lowers low-density-lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels, even in the presence of statins, a new study suggests.
The study involved more than 300 patients, 65% of whom were already taking a statin at the maximally tolerated dose, randomized to the fixed-dose combination of bempedoic acid and ezetimibe, bempedoic acid alone, ezetimibe alone, or placebo.
Regardless of other lipid-lowering therapy, the fixed-dose combination lowered LDL-cholesterol levels by a significant 36%, or 38% when compared with placebo, versus 23% for ezetimibe alone and 17% for bempedoic acid.
The findings were presented here at the European Atherosclerosis Society 2019 Congress.
