If You Have High Lipoprotein(a) Consider Enrolling in this Trial

This is a quick post to notify individuals with high lipoprotein(a) levels of a clinical trial of lepodisiran that they may qualify for.

I’ve written in detail about the hidden risk of lipoprotein(a), (aka Lp(a)), here and here. If you or family members have developed atherosclerotic complications at an early disease you need to be tested for it.

Briefly, Lp(a) is the strongest single inherited (monogenetic) risk factor for the early development of coronary artery disease, heart attacks and strokes. It is not routinely tested for in the standard cholesterol or lipid panel (although it should be.)

Although effective therapies exist to reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering LDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B, we don’t have any approved drug treatments to lower Lp(a). Since Lp(a) levels are genetically determined, lifestyle changes (diet or exercise) generally have no effect.

A recent trial showed that a single injection of Eli Lilly’s small interfering RNA (is RNA) drug, lepodisiran lowered lipoprotein(a) levels by as much as 96% within two weeks and maintained levels more than 94% below baseline for 48 weeks. 

Eli Lilly is now enrolling patients into a trial to look out whether this dramatic reduction in Lp(a) results in significant reductions in heart attack, stroke and cardiac death in a study entitled “A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study to Investigate the Effect of Lepodisiran on the Reduction of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Adults with ElevatedLipoprotein(a) who have Established Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease or Are at Risk for a First Cardiovascular Event – ACCLAIM-Lp(a).”

Here are the inclusion criteria:

You can find local study locations and answer a brief questionnaire to see if you qualify here.

If you want more information or have questions put them in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer them. A St. Louis patient of mine was recently enrolled via a site in St. Peters, MO and has shared with me her experience thus far.

Here’s a press release from the Cleveland Clinic on the trial showing dramatic reductions in Lp(a) with lepodisiran.

Acclaimingly Yours,

-ACP

N.B. Hopefully it goes without saying that I have no ties whatsoever to Eli Lilly and that I stand to gain nothing from this trial.