Bempedoic acid/ezetimibe

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Bempedoic acid/ezetimibe
Combination of
Bempedoic acid Adenosine triphosphate-citrate lyase (ACL) inhibitor
Ezetimibe Cholesterol absorption inhibitor
Clinical data
Trade names Nexlizet, Nustendi
AHFS/Drugs.com Multum Consumer Information
License data
Routes of
administration
By mouth
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
Identifiers
KEGG

Bempedoic acid/ezetimibe, sold under the brand name Nexlizet among others, is a fixed-dose combination medication used for the treatment of high cholesterol. [1] [3] It is a combination of bempedoic acid and ezetimibe. [1] [2]

Contents

The most common side effects are hyperuricemia (high blood levels of uric acid) and constipation. [2]

Bempedoic acid is an adenosine triphosphate-citrate lyase (ACL) inhibitor and ezetimibe is a cholesterol absorption inhibitor. [1] Bempedoic acid works by blocking an enzyme in the liver called adenosine triphosphate citrate lyase, which is involved in making cholesterol. [2] Ezetimibe works by binding to a gut protein called 'Niemann-Pick C1 Like 1', preventing cholesterol from being absorbed into the blood from the gut. [2]

The combination was approved for medical use in the United States in February 2020, and in the European Union in March 2020. [4] [2]

Medical uses

In the US bempedoic acid/ezetimibe is indicated as an adjunct to diet and maximally tolerated statin therapy for the treatment of adults with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia or established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease who require additional lowering of LDL-C. [1]

In the EU bempedoic acid/ezetimibe is indicated in adults with primary hypercholesterolemia (heterozygous familial and non-familial) or mixed dyslipidemia, as an adjunct to diet: [2]

Contraindications

It the European Union it must not be used in pregnant or breast-feeding women. [2] Use during pregnancy is not recommended in the US. [1]

History

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommended approval of bempedoic acid/ezetimibe (Nustendi) in the EU in January 2020. [2]

Bempedoic acid/ezetimibe was approved in the United States in February 2020, and in the European Union in March 2020. [4] [5] [2]

Two studies showed that bempedoic acid and ezetimibe effectively reduced LDL cholesterol levels in participants with hypercholesterolemia and heart disease or who were at high risk of heart disease. [2] High cholesterol is a risk factor for heart disease. [2]

The first study involved 382 participants also taking the maximum tolerated doses of statins. [2] After three months, LDL cholesterol levels were reduced by 36% in participants taking bempedoic acid and ezetimibe compared with a reduction of 23% with ezetimibe alone, 17% with bempedoic acid alone and an increase of around 2% with placebo (a dummy treatment). [2]

The second study involved 269 participants with high cholesterol levels who were not able to take a statin or were taking a low dose of a statin. [2] All the participants were also taking ezetimibe. [2] After three months, LDL cholesterol levels were reduced by 23% in participants taking bempedoic acid in addition to ezetimibe compared with an increase of around 5% in participants taking placebo and ezetimibe. [2]

A phase 3 study found that bempedoic acid/ezetimibe lowered LDL-C by 39.2% compared to placebo in patients not taking statins. [6]

Related Research Articles

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Statins, also known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, are a class of lipid-lowering medications that reduce illness and mortality in those who are at high risk of cardiovascular disease. They are the most commonly prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs.

Lipid-lowering agents, also sometimes referred to as hypolipidemic agents, cholesterol-lowering drugs, or antihyperlipidemic agents are a diverse group of pharmaceuticals that are used to lower the level of lipids and lipoproteins such as cholesterol, in the blood (hyperlipidemia). The American Heart Association recommends the descriptor 'lipid lowering agent' be used for this class of drugs rather than the term 'hypolipidemic'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hypercholesterolemia</span> High levels of cholesterol in the blood

Hypercholesterolemia, also called high cholesterol, is the presence of high levels of cholesterol in the blood. It is a form of hyperlipidemia, hyperlipoproteinemia, and dyslipidemia.

Dyslipidemia is a metabolic disorder characterized by abnormally high or low amounts of any or all lipids or lipoproteins in the blood. Dyslipidemia is a risk factor for the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD), which include coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral artery disease. Although dyslipidemia is a risk factor for ASCVD, abnormal levels don't mean that lipid lowering agents need to be started. Other factors, such as comorbid conditions and lifestyle in addition to dyslipidemia, is considered in a cardiovascular risk assessment. In developed countries, most dyslipidemias are hyperlipidemias; that is, an elevation of lipids in the blood. This is often due to diet and lifestyle. Prolonged elevation of insulin resistance can also lead to dyslipidemia. Likewise, increased levels of O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) may cause dyslipidemia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atorvastatin</span> Cholesterol-lowering medication

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ezetimibe/simvastatin</span> Drug combination used for the treatment of dyslipidemia

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Familial hypercholesterolemia</span> Genetic disorder characterized by high cholesterol levels

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Nexlizet- bempedoic acid and ezetimibe tablet, film coated". DailyMed. 10 March 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 "Nustendi EPAR". European Medicines Agency (EMA). 29 January 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020. Text was copied from this source which is © European Medicines Agency. Reproduction is authorized provided the source is acknowledged.
  3. Pirillo A, Catapano AL (April 2022). "New insights into the role of bempedoic acid and ezetimibe in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia". Current Opinion in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Obesity. 29 (2): 161–166. doi: 10.1097/MED.0000000000000706 . PMC   8915986 . PMID   34980867.
  4. 1 2 "Drug Approval Package: Nexlizet". U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 17 April 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  5. "Nexlizet: FDA-Approved Drugs". U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  6. Laufs, Ulrich; Ballantyne, Christie M; Banach, Maciej; Bays, Harold; Catapano, Alberico L.; Duell, P. Barton; Goldberg, Anne C.; Gotto, Antonio M.; Leiter, Lawrence A.; Ray, Kausik K.; Bloedon, LeAnne T.; MacDougall, Diane; Zhang, Yang; Mancini, G. B. John (1 May 2022). "Efficacy and safety of bempedoic acid in patients not receiving statins in phase 3 clinical trials". Journal of Clinical Lipidology. 16 (3): 286–297. doi:10.1016/j.jacl.2022.03.001. ISSN   1933-2874.