Alirocumab is an injectable PCSK9 inhibitor that reduces the level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), commonly known as “bad” cholesterol. The ODYSSEY OUTCOMES trial demonstrated that, among patients with a recent acute coronary syndrome (ACS) receiving high-intensity statin therapy, alirocumab reduced the risk of recurrent ischemic cardiovascular events and lowered all-cause mortality.
Using ODYSSEY OUTCOMES data, a recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology investigated the impact of triglyceride (the most common type of fat in the body) levels on cardiovascular outcomes in patients receiving alirocumab versus placebo. Although triglyceride levels correlated with cardiovascular risk, the clinical benefit of PCSK9 inhibition with alirocumab appears independent of triglyceride reduction. The REDUCE-IT investigators have previously demonstrated that patients with elevated triglycerides and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (including recent ACS), experienced a substantial lowering of cardiovascular events when receiving icosapent ethyl. Similar to the ODYSSEY OUTCOMES trial findings, the benefit of icosapent ethyl was realized independent of triglyceride reduction, suggesting that triglycerides may be a marker for—rather than the cause of—cardiovascular events.
This study was conducted on behalf of the ODYSSEY OUTCOMES Investigators, and the CVC’s Dr. Shaun Goodman (Executive Steering Committee and Canadian National Leader) was a co-author. The CVC, with the clinical operations leadership of Tracy Temple and Jodi Parotta, coordinated Canadian site participation in ODYSSEY OUTCOMES.
