AHA 2023 Highlights Podcast

In this episode [12:48], Medicom’s correspondent covers 6 presentations from the American Heart Association annual meeting (AHA 2023), held in Philadelphia from 16-18 November 2023.
The topics discussed are:

1. Succesful results for semaglutide in highly anticipated SELECT trial
   Semaglutide successfully reduced adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients with pre-existing cardiovascular disease (CVD) and overweight, but without diabetes, showing that overweight is a modifiable risk factor for CVD. No unexpected safety issues emerged with semaglutide in this population.
2. Abelacimab substantially lowers bleeding risk compared with rivaroxaban
   In the phase 3 AZALEA-TIMI 71 trial, abelacimab significantly reduced bleeding events compared with rivaroxaban in patients with atrial fibrillation. Furthermore, the agent showed potent inhibition of factor XI. Whether this novel agent also reduces the risk of ischaemic events compared to other anticoagulants requires further study.
3. Gene editing may change treatment landscape of hypercholesterolaemia
   The first-in-human study to investigate VERVE-101, a novel CRISPR base editing medicine, showed successful inactivation of hepatic PCSK9 in the liver by changing a single DNA base pair. Furthermore, durable, dose-dependent reductions of LDL-cholesterol were observed in the first assessed patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia with a manageable safety profile.
4. Biannual zilebesiran associated with substantial BP reductions
   In the phase 2 KARDIA-1 study, a single subcutaneous dose of zilebesiran demonstrated encouraging reductions in systolic blood pressure in hypertensive patients at 3 and 6 months of follow-up compared with placebo. The investigational agent zilebesiran is further assessed as add-on therapy for patients with hypertension in the phase 2 KARDIA-2 trial.
5. Pemafibrate reduces microvascular complications of PAD and T2D
   Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and mixed dyslipidaemia from the PROMINENT trial who were treated with pemafibrate had a mean 37% reduction in ischaemic ulcerations or gangrene related to peripheral artery disease (PAD). According to the authors, these findings are in line with prior studies indicating that PPAR-α agonists have a positive effect on distal small vessel complications in T2D and PAD.
6. Encouraging data for lepodisiran as Lp(a) lowering therapy
   A substantial reduction in lipoprotein(a) was achieved with a single subcutaneous injection of lepodisiran, an siRNA-targeting mRNA for the LPA gene. Together with the favourable safety profile of this agent, the results support further exploration of lepodisiran.

Enjoy listening!

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Posted on 28 November, 20234 January, 2024