A new fixed-dose combination therapy pairing obicetrapib with the cholesterol-lowering drug ezetimibe significantly reduced low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels in patients whose cholesterol remained elevated despite statin use, according to research published in The Lancet.
The randomized, double-blind study enrolled 407 participants at 48 U.S. sites for a phase 3 clinical trial. All participants had either established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, were at high risk for it or had familial hypercholesterolemia.
After 84 days of treatment, the once-daily oral therapy reduced LDL cholesterol levels by 48.6% compared to the placebo, a greater reduction than seen with either obicetrapib or ezetimibe alone.
Researchers said the therapy may provide a new treatment option for patients who require additional LDL-lowering beyond what statins can provide.