Amgen announced that it will present 14 abstracts at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2015, from Nov. 7–11 in Orlando, Fla. New data analyses evaluating Repatha™
(evolocumab), an injectable proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type
9 (PCSK9) inhibitor approved for certain patients with high low-density
lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), or "bad" cholesterol, and Corlanor®
(ivabradine), an oral medicine for certain people who have chronic
(long-lasting) heart failure caused by the lower-left part of their
heart not contracting well, will be presented at the meeting.
Repatha, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Aug. 27,
is indicated 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; and as an
adjunct to diet and other LDL-lowering therapies for the treatment of
patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH), who
require additional lowering of LDL-C. The effect of Repatha on
cardiovascular morbidity and mortality has not been determined.
Corlanor, approved by the FDA on April 15,
is indicated to reduce the risk of hospitalization for worsening heart
failure in patients with stable, symptomatic chronic heart failure with
left ventricular ejection fraction <35 percent, who are in sinus rhythm with resting heart rate >70 beats per minute and either are on maximally tolerated doses of beta blockers or have a contraindication to beta blocker use.
In addition to Repatha and Corlanor clinical trial analyses, data from Amgen's Center for Observational Research will be presented, including a poster and oral presentation on findings from the REGARDS (REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke)
study, and an oral presentation on the benefits of initiating beta
blocker treatment in heart failure patients within seven days following
hospital discharge. A global health economics study on the association
between achievement of LDL-C reduction targets and cardiovascular
disease risk among patients with familial hypercholesterolemia will also
be presented.
