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ODYSSEY OUTCOMES investigators highlight at AHA that Praluent (alirocumab) was associated with fewer deaths from any cause
PARIS and Tarrytown, N.Y. November 11, 2018 New analyses on mortality from the
18,924-patient ODYSSEY OUTCOMES trial were presented at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2018.
Praluent (alirocumab) was associated with fewer deaths from any cause among patients who had
previously experienced a heart attack or unstable angina (known as acute coronary syndrome, or ACS), and this was enhanced in patients who were followed for at least 3 years and those who had an LDL-C (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) of 100 mg/dL or higher at baseline. Moreover, additional new analyses showed an association between reduced non-fatal cardiovascular
(CV) events and reduction in non-CV death during the trial period.
patients risk of death is one of cardiologists key priorities. Some of these deaths could potentially be prevented, particularly among patients who have already been identified as high risk because they have a history of acute coronary
syndrome, said Gregory G. Schwartz, M.D., Ph.D., University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, and co-chair of the trial. In this nearly
19,000-patient trial, alirocumab was associated with fewer deaths from any cause, an observation that was more pronounced among patients who were eligible for at least 3 years of treatment, or who started with
LDL-C of at least 100 mg/dL.
In the trial, Praluent added to maximally-tolerated statins was compared
to maximally-tolerated statins alone in patients who had experienced an ACS within the last 12 months. Data published in The
New England Journal of Medicine last week found Praluent significantly reduced the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and was associated with a lower risk of death from any cause.
In pre-specified analyses of 8,242 patients followed for at least 3 years, Praluent was associated with a 22% lower
risk of death from any cause (hazard ratio (HR) 0.78; 95% CI, 0.65 to 0.94; nominal p=0.01). Separate post-hoc analyses showed Praluent-treated patients whose baseline
LDL-C levels were at or above 100 mg/dL experienced a 29% lower risk of death from any cause (HR 0.71; 95% CI, 0.56 to 0.90).
In additional post-hoc analyses researchers found Praluent-treated
patients experienced fewer non-fatal CV events and were less likely to die from a non-CV event and that these two findings may be associated (association between non-fatal and fatal events = 2.35; 95% CI, 1.98 to 2.73; p<0.0001).
No new safety signals were found in the
analyses. In ODYSSEY OUTCOMES, the incidence of adverse events was similar in the two groups, with the exception of local injection-site reactions (3.8% in the Praluent group vs. 2.1% in the placebo group).
The effect of Praluent on CV morbidity and mortality is currently being reviewed by regulatory authorities and has not yet been fully evaluated. Data from the
ODYSSEY OUTCOMES trial have been submitted to regulatory authorities in the European Union and in the U.S., where the target action date for the Food and Drug and Administration (FDA) decision is April 28, 2019.
About ODYSSEY OUTCOMES
ODYSSEY OUTCOMES (n=18,924) assessed the effect of Praluent on the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients who had experienced an
acute coronary syndrome (ACS) between 1-12 months (median 2.6 months) before enrolling in the trial, and who were already on intensive or maximally-tolerated statin treatment. Patients were randomized to
receive Praluent (n=9,462) or a placebo (n=9,462) and were assessed for a median of 2.8 years, with some patients being treated for up to five years. Approximately 90% of patients were on a high-intensity statin.
The trial was designed to maintain patients LDL-C levels between 25-50
mg/dL, using two different doses of Praluent (75 mg and 150 mg). Praluent-treated patients started the trial on 75 mg every 2 weeks and switched to 150 mg every 2 weeks if their LDL-C levels remained above 50
mg/dL (n=2,615). Some patients who switched to 150 mg switched back to 75 mg if their LDL-C fell below 25 mg/dL (n=805), and patients who experienced two consecutive
LDL-C measurements below 15 mg/dL while on the 75 mg dose (n=730) stopped active Praluent therapy for the remainder of the trial.
inhibits the binding of PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9) to the LDL receptor and thereby increases the number of available LDL receptors on the surface of liver cells to clear LDL, which lowers
LDL-C levels in the blood. Praluent is being developed by Regeneron and Sanofi under a global collaboration agreement.
Praluent is approved in more than 60 countries worldwide, including the U.S., Japan, Canada, Switzerland, Mexico and Brazil, as well as the European Union
U.S., Praluent is approved for use as an adjunct to diet and maximally tolerated statin therapy for the treatment of adults with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) or clinical
atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) who require additional lowering of LDL-C. The effect of Praluent on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality has not been determined.
About Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Regeneron (NASDAQ: REGN) is a leading biotechnology company that invents life-transforming medicines for people with serious diseases. Founded and led
for 30 years by physician-scientists, our unique ability to repeatedly and consistently translate science into medicine has led to seven FDA-approved treatments and numerous product candidates in development,
all of which were homegrown in our laboratories. Our medicines and pipeline are designed to help patients with eye diseases, allergic and inflammatory diseases, cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, neuromuscular diseases, infectious
diseases and rare diseases.
Regeneron is accelerating and improving the traditional drug development process through our proprietary
VelociSuite technologies, such as VelocImmune which produces optimized fully-human antibodies, and
ambitious research initiatives such as the Regeneron Genetics Center, which is conducting one of the largest genetics sequencing efforts in the world.
For additional information about the company, please visit www.regeneron.com or follow @Regeneron on Twitter.