- In October 2024, AstraZeneca signed an exclusive license agreement with CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd (CSPC) to support the development of an early-stage, novel small molecule Lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) disruptor. This new asset has the potential to provide additional benefits for patients with dyslipidemia. It further enhances AstraZeneca’s cardiovascular portfolio, aiming to address key risk factors that contribute to chronic cardiovascular disease.
- In April 2024, Novartis revealed new data showing that the early addition of twice-yearly Leqvio (inclisiran) to maximally tolerated statin therapy, before the introduction of guideline-recommended ezetimibe, significantly lowered low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in a real-world setting. This was particularly effective in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), including those with a history of an ASCVD-related event, who were unable to achieve their LDL-C targets with statin therapy alone.
- In March 2023, Merck reported the results of a Phase 2b clinical trial assessing MK-0616, an investigational, once-daily oral PCSK9 inhibitor, in adults with hypercholesterolemia. The primary goal of the study was to measure the percentage change in LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) from baseline to week 8 for four different doses of MK-0616 (6, 12, 18, and 30 mg) compared to a placebo. At week 8, all doses of MK-0616 demonstrated a significant reduction in LDL-C levels compared to the placebo, with the placebo-adjusted reduction ranging from 41.2% to 60.9%.
- In March 2023, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded the approval of Evkeeza (evinacumab-dgnb) as an additional treatment alongside other lipid-lowering therapies for children aged 5 to 11 with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH). Evkeeza is the first angiopoietin-like 3 (ANGPTL3) inhibitors approved for use in children as young as 5 years old to manage dangerously high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) associated with HoFH.
- In May 2022, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited announced that one of its fully owned subsidiaries intends to introduce a first-in-class oral drug, Bempedoic Acid, in India for the reduction of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. The drug will be marketed under the brand name "Brillo."
