Skip to main content
Download PDF

Efficacy and safety of alirocumab, a fully human PCSK9 monoclonal antibody, in high cardiovascular risk patients with poorly controlled hypercholesterolemia on maximally tolerated doses of statins: rationale and design of the ODYSSEY COMBO I and II trials

BMC Cardiovascular Disorders volume 14, Article number: 121 (2014) Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Alirocumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody to proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) under investigation for treatment of hypercholesterolemia and reduction of cardiovascular events.

Methods/design

The COMBO studies, part of the Phase 3 ODYSSEY clinical trial program, are designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of alirocumab as add-on therapy to stable, maximally tolerated daily statin, with or without other lipid-lowering therapy (LLT), in a planned 966 patients with hypercholesterolemia at high cardiovascular risk. COMBO I (http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01644175) is placebo-controlled, with a double-blind treatment period of 52 weeks, and 306 planned patients who may receive other LLTs in addition to statin therapy. COMBO II (http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01644188) has a double-blind treatment period of 104 weeks, comparing alirocumab with ezetimibe in 660 planned patients receiving statin therapy (but no other LLTs). The primary efficacy endpoint is the difference between treatment arms in percent change in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) from baseline to week 24. Both studies utilized a starting dose of alirocumab 75 mg every 2 weeks (Q2W; administered as 1 mL solution via auto-injector). Patients with LDL-C levels ≥70 mg/dL after 8 weeks of treatment were up-titrated in a blinded manner at week 12 to alirocumab 150 mg Q2W (also 1 mL auto-injector).

Discussion

In conclusion, the COMBO studies will provide information on the long-term efficacy and safety of alirocumab in high-risk patients when administered in addition to maximally tolerated statin therapy, with a flexible dosing strategy which allows for individualized therapy based on the degree of LDL-C lowering needed to achieve the desired treatment response.

Trial registrations

COMBO I: NCT01644175 (NCT01644175). COMBO II: NCT01644188 (NCT01644188).

Peer Review reports

Background

The benefits of lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels on cardiovascular risk reduction for patients with and without coronary heart disease (CHD) are well established. For example, the 2012 Cholesterol Treatment Trialists’ meta-analysis (n = 174,149), including 22 controlled trials of standard statin regimens and five trials comparing more intensive versus less intensive statin regimens, showed a 21% reduction in cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality and morbidity for every ~40 mg/dL (1 mmol/L) reduction in LDL-C, largely irrespective of age, sex, baseline LDL-C, or previous vascular disease [1]. The Cholesterol Treatment Trialists’ Collaboration also showed that there is further benefit from more intensive LDL-C lowering with statin therapy, even if LDL-C is already lower than ~80 mg/dL (2 mmol/L) at baseline [2].

European guidelines recommend LDL-C targets for patients based on their cardiovascular risk [3, 4]. In patients at very high risk, these guidelines recommend a LDL-C goal of ~70 mg/dL (<1.8 mmol/L) [3, 4], advocating a ≥50% reduction when target levels cannot be reached [3]. For intermediate- and high-risk patients, Canadian dyslipidemia guidelines recommend either a LDL-C level of ~77 mg/dL (≤2.0 mmol/L) or at least a 50% reduction in LDL-C [5]. The recently published 2013 American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) cholesterol management guidelines focus on intensity of statin treatment and recommend either high- or moderate-intensity statin therapy depending on cardiovascular risk [6]. High-intensity statin therapy (atorvastatin 40–80 mg/day or rosuvastatin 20–40 mg/day) generally reduces LDL-C levels by ≥50% while moderate-intensity statin therapy reduces LDL-by ≥30% to <50%. However, high-intensity statin therapy may be insufficient to achieve LDL-C targets when utilizing a ‘treat-to–target’ approach, may not be tolerated, or may be associated with a higher risk of myopathy [7]. Furthermore, despite the availability of other lipid-lowering therapies (LLTs) including cholesterol absorption inhibitors (ezetimibe), many high-risk patients with hypercholesterolemia still do not achieve adequate control of LDL-C levels and experience cardiovascular events [8–13]. Thus, treatment with other LDL-C-lowering therapies (either in combination with or without statin therapy) may be warranted to achieve better LDL-C control. Indeed, the 2013 ACC/AHA guideline recommends consideration of non-statin drug therapy for high-risk individuals needing additional LDL-C lowering, such as those with clinical atherosclerotic CVD, untreated LDL-C ≥190 mg/dL, or diabetes aged 40–75 years [6]. However, it should be noted that, to date, major trials of these hypolipidemic drugs in combination with statins have failed to show any additional improvement in cardiovascular outcomes as compared with statins alone [14, 15].

Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is the ninth member of the proprotein convertase family [16]. PCSK9 inhibitors protect hepatic LDLRs against PCSK9-mediated degradation and, consequently, reduce plasma levels of LDL-C [17]. PCSK9 inhibition has the potential to provide a complementary mechanism to significantly reduce LDL-C beyond what is possible with statins, since statins are known to increase PCSK9 levels at transcriptional level [18]. Several approaches to PCSK9 inhibition are in development, the most advanced being monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), which prevent PCSK9 from binding to the LDLR (reviewed in Farnier, [19] and Cariou et al. [20]).

Alirocumab is a fully human mAb to PCSK9 that has shown considerable promise in Phase 2 trials [21–23] and is currently in Phase 3 trials for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and reduction of cardiovascular events.

The COMBO I (http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01644175) and II (http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01644188) trials form part of the alirocumab Phase 3 ODYSSEY clinical trial program, which currently comprises 14 studies across a range of patient groups and clinical settings involving more than 23,500 planned patients, to further assess the efficacy and safety of alirocumab. The COMBO studies have been specifically designed to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of alirocumab as add-on therapy to stable, maximally tolerated, daily statin therapy in patients with hypercholesterolemia at high cardiovascular risk. COMBO I compares alirocumab against placebo, with patients permitted to receive other stable doses of LLTs in addition to maximally tolerated daily statin therapy. COMBO II compares alirocumab versus ezetimibe when administered in conjunction with statin therapy only (i.e. other LLTs are not allowed in COMBO II).

Methods

Study design

COMBO I is a Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multicenter, 52-week study being conducted at 76 sites in the USA. This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of alirocumab as add-on therapy to stable, maximally tolerated doses of daily statin, with or without other stable LLT, in a planned population of 306 high-risk patients with poorly controlled hypercholesterolemia (Figure 1A). COMBO I began screening patients in July 2012 and completed collection of data in April 2014 (http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01644175); data analyses are ongoing.COMBO II is a Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, active-controlled, parallel-group, multinational 104-week study being conducted at 126 sites in Europe, Israel, North America, South Africa, and South Korea. The planned population size is 660 high-risk patients with poorly controlled hypercholesterolemia on stable, maximally tolerated daily statin therapy. This study began screening patients in August 2012 and is anticipated to complete in July 2015 (http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01644188). Unlike COMBO I, with a placebo arm, COMBO II incorporates an active-treatment arm (ezetimibe) with double-dummy design (Figure 1b) and patients are not allowed to receive any other LLTs besides statin and their randomized treatment.

Figure 1
figure 1

Study design. A) ODYSSEY COMBO I. B) ODYSSEY COMBO II. LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LLT, lipid-lowering therapy; NCEP ATP III, National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III; PO, per os; Q2W, every 2 weeks; R, randomization; SC, subcutaneous; TLC, therapeutic lifestyle changes.

Full size image

The studies are being conducted in compliance with the principles laid down by the 18th World Medical Assembly (Helsinki, 1964) and all applicable amendments laid down by the World Medical Assemblies and according to the International Conference on Harmonization Guidelines for Good Clinical Practice. The protocols have been reviewed and approved by the institutional review board of each participating center (Additional file 1). All participants have provided written informed consent.

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Principal inclusion and exclusion criteria are shown in Table 1; full inclusion and exclusion criteria for both studies can be found in Additional file 1.

Table 1 Key inclusion and exclusion criteria*
Full size table

All patients in COMBO I and II have hypercholesterolemia and established CHD or CHD risk equivalents, with LDL-C poorly controlled with a maximally tolerated daily dose of statin. In COMBO I only, patients were also permitted to receive other LLT on top of statin, provided both the statin and other LLT were at stable dose for at least 4 weeks (6 weeks for fenofibrate) prior to the screening visit; in COMBO II, statin dose was required to be stable for at least 4 weeks prior to the screening visit and other LLTs were not permitted. At screening, patients either had LDL-C ≥70 mg/dL (≥1.81 mmol/L) with documented CVD or LDL-C ≥100 mg/dL (≥2.59 mmol/L) with no documented history of CVD (Table 1).

The ‘maximum tolerated dose’ of statin was defined as either rosuvastatin 20 mg or 40 mg daily, atorvastatin 40 mg or 80 mg daily, or simvastatin 80 mg daily (if already on this dose for >1 year). However, patients not able to tolerate the above statin doses remained eligible for inclusion if they were on a lower dose of daily atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, or simvastatin provided that the investigator had a documented reason for not using the higher dose (Additional file 1).

Study procedures

Patients meeting the inclusion criteria entered a screening period of up to 2 (COMBO I) or 3 (COMBO II) weeks prior to randomization. During screening, patients completed informed consent, inclusion/exclusion criteria were further assessed, patient information was collected, and patients were trained in the use of the auto-injector device. In addition, vital signs were taken, a 12-lead electrocardiogram was performed, and fasting blood and urine samples were obtained for analysis. AEs will be assessed from the screening visit throughout the study.

LDL-C will be calculated using the Friedewald formula at screening and at all time points during the double-blind treatment periods. If TGs exceed 400 mg/dL (4.52 mmol/L) then the central laboratory will reflexively measure LDL-C (via the beta quantification method) rather than calculating it. LDL-C will also be measured (via the beta quantification method) at week 0 and week 24. Other lipid parameters, including total cholesterol, HDL-C, TGs, Apo B, Apo A1, and Lp(a), will be measured directly by the central laboratory.

COMBO I

Eligible patients were randomized (2:1 alirocumab:placebo), with stratification by 1) prior history of myocardial infarction (MI) or ischemic stroke, and 2) intensity of statin treatment, to ensure balance between arms for these factors. After randomization, patients entered a double-blind treatment period of 52 weeks. In addition to existing statin and other existing LLT if appropriate, patients randomized to alirocumab received a 75 mg subcutaneous (SC) dose every 2 weeks (Q2W), administered as a single 1 mL injection utilizing an auto-injector, from randomization to week 12. Patients randomized to placebo received a 1 mL SC placebo injection from an identical auto-injector.

At week 12, patients randomized to alirocumab were up-titrated to 150 mg Q2W if the week 8 LDL-C was ≥70 mg/dL (1.81 mmol/L). To maintain blinding, the patient and investigator were not informed of the week 8 LDL-C levels (or any lipid values after randomization); continuation or up-titration of dose occurred in an automated and blinded manner. The 150 mg Q2W dose of alirocumab was also administered as a 1 mL solution in an auto-injector.On-site patient assessments during the treatment period were scheduled at randomization and then weeks 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 36, and 52 (end of treatment visit) (Figure 1). After the treatment period, there will be an 8-week follow-up period.

COMBO II

Eligible patients were randomized (2:1 alirocumab:ezetimibe), with stratification for 1) prior history of MI or ischemic stroke, 2) intensity of statin treatment, and 3) geographic region, to ensure balance between arms in these factors. After randomization, patients entered a double-blind, double-dummy treatment period of 104 weeks. Patients were randomized to either alirocumab 75 mg SC Q2W plus placebo for ezetimibe per os (PO) daily or placebo for alirocumab SC Q2W plus ezetimibe 10 mg PO daily. At week 12, patients randomized to alirocumab were up-titrated to 150 mg Q2W if the week 8 LDL-C was ≥70 mg/dL (1.81 mmol/L).On-site patient assessments were scheduled at regular intervals from randomization to week 104 (end of treatment visit) (Figure 1). After the treatment period, there will be an 8-week follow-up period.

In both studies, patients were asked to remain on a stable diet (National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III therapeutic lifestyle changes diet or equivalent) and the daily statin dose should be stable throughout the entire study duration from screening to the follow-up visit. Modification to the statin (and, in the case of COMBO I, other background LLT) is only allowed under special circumstances.

Endpoints and assessments

The primary objective of both studies is to demonstrate reduction of calculated LDL-C by alirocumab as add-on therapy to stable maximally tolerated daily statin, either (a) with or without other LLTs, in comparison with placebo (COMBO I) or (b) in comparison with ezetimibe 10 mg daily (COMBO II). The primary endpoint for both studies is the difference between arms in percent change in calculated LDL-C from baseline to week 24, using all LDL-C values regardless of adherence to treatment (intent-to-treat [ITT] approach). The key secondary efficacy endpoints are very similar in the two studies and are summarized in Table 2.

Table 2 Primary and key secondary endpoints in COMBO I and II
Full size table

Safety will be assessed throughout the duration of the treatment periods by AE reporting (including adjudicated cardiovascular events), laboratory analyses, and vital signs measurement. Since the long-term effects of PCSK9 inhibition on top of a statin in humans are unknown, a number of AEs are defined as being of special interest and will be monitored (Additional file 1).

Statistical analyses

Sample size determination

In COMBO I, a sample size of 45 patients (30 in alirocumab, 15 in placebo) was determined to have 95% power to detect a difference in mean percentage change in LDL-C of 30% with a 0.05 two-sided significance level, assuming a common standard deviation of 25% and all 45 patients having an evaluable primary endpoint. Meanwhile, in COMBO II, a sample size of 96 patients (64 in alirocumab, 32 in ezetimibe) was determined to have 95% power to detect a difference in mean percentage change in LDL-C of 20% with a 0.05 two-sided significance level, assuming common standard deviation of 25% and all 96 patients having an evaluable primary endpoint.

However, to meet regulatory requirements across the overall ODYSSEY Program, sample sizes were increased in most of the alirocumab Phase 3 studies to assess the safety of alirocumab appropriately in the overall integrated safety database. Therefore, the final total sample sizes were increased to 306 patients in COMBO I and 660 in COMBO II, both with a randomization ratio of 2:1.

Primary analysis

The primary efficacy analysis population will be the ITT population, comprising all randomized patients with at least one baseline calculated LDL-C value available and at least one calculated LDL-C value available at one of the planned time points from weeks 4 to 24 (regardless of treatment adherence).

The percentage change in calculated LDL-C from baseline to week 24 will be analyzed using a mixed effect model with repeated measures (MMRM) approach to account for missing data [24, 25]. All available post-baseline data at planned time points from week 4 to 52 regardless of status on- or off-treatment will be used in the MMRM for the ITT analysis, with the model used to provide least-squares means estimates and comparison between treatment arms of LDL-C reductions at week 24. The models will include fixed categorical effects of treatment group, randomization strata, time point, treatment-by-time point interaction, and strata-by-time point interaction, as well as the continuous fixed covariates of baseline LDL-C value and baseline value-by-time point interaction. Although both trials have the LDL-C differences at week 24 as the primary endpoint, they extend beyond 24 weeks so as to maximize available safety data and to generate further data on durability of lipid lowering effects. The studies will extend to the planned duration regardless of any efficacy data from the week 24 timepoint.

Secondary analysis

A hierarchical procedure will be used to control type I error and handle multiple secondary endpoint analyses. If the primary endpoint analysis (ITT) is significant at 5% alpha level, key secondary efficacy endpoints will be tested sequentially in the order given in Table 2. In particular, LDL-C reduction at week 24 will be analyzed ‘on-treatment’ in the modified ITT (mITT) population if the primary analysis is significant in the ITT population.

The mITT population will exclude those patients from the ITT population who do not have a calculated LDL-C value available while on-treatment (defined as the period between first dose of study treatment and up to 21 days after last injection, or 3 days after last capsule intake, whichever came first). For the on-treatment analysis, all available on-treatment measurements (i.e. up to 21 days after last injection/3 days after last capsule, whichever comes first) at planned time points from weeks 4 to 52 will be used in the MMRM.

Continuous secondary endpoints, except Lp(a) and TGs, will be analyzed using the same MMRM model as for the primary endpoint. Lp(a) and TGs (which have a non-Gaussian distribution) and the binary secondary endpoints (proportion of patients with LDL-C <70 mg/dL and <100 mg/dL) will be analyzed using a multiple imputation approach for handling of missing values followed by robust regression (for Lp[a] and TGs) or logistic regression (for the binary endpoints).

Safety analysis

AEs (including adjudicated cardiovascular events), laboratory parameters, and vital signs will be reported descriptively, based on the safety population (all randomized patients who received at least one dose or partial dose of study treatment). The safety analysis will focus on the treatment-emergent AE period, defined as the time from the first double-blind dose to the last double-blind dose of the investigational product + 70 days (10 weeks). The studies are not powered to assess the impact on cardiovascular outcomes, which will be assessed in a separate, large outcomes study (http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01663402) [26].

Discussion

Prior clinical studies and observational analyses have demonstrated that many patients may struggle to achieve effective control of their LDL-C levels utilizing existing LLTs, with high baseline LDL-C levels, efficacy limitations, intolerance, and poor compliance all contributing factors [27–32]. However, the addition of a mAb targeting PCSK9 to existing LLT may help those patients at high cardiovascular risk to achieve the recommended LDL-C levels or percentage lowering. The ODYSSEY COMBO studies are designed to assess the efficacy and safety of alirocumab as add-on therapy to stable, maximally tolerated daily statin therapy in patients with hypercholesterolemia at high cardiovascular risk versus placebo (COMBO I) or ezetimibe (COMBO II). These patients, at high cardiovascular risk, are recommended for intensive lowering of LDL-C.

COMBO II will also allow a comparison of the efficacy and safety of alirocumab versus ezetimibe, both given on top of maximally tolerated doses of statin. Ezetimibe is frequently added to statins to provide greater reductions in LDL-C, particularly where patients are unable to tolerate titration to a higher potency [33]. However, while generally well tolerated, ezetimibe lowers LDL-C levels only modestly. As an add-on to statin therapy, a 15.1% greater reduction in LDL-C was observed with statin + ezetimibe combination therapy when compared with statin monotherapy in a meta-analysis of 27 double-blind, placebo-controlled, or active comparative studies of over 21,000 subjects with a mean treatment duration of 9 weeks [34]. In this meta-analysis, only 10.3% of patients with established CHD who received statin monotherapy achieved the pre-defined LDL-C goal of <70 mg/dL. Even with the addition of ezetimibe, only 32.1% of patients achieved this LDL-C goal, suggesting the need for more effective LLT [34].

The trials within the ODYSSEY program use a treat-to-goal approach and are designed to address unmet needs of patient populations on current standard of care unable to achieve LDL-C goals, using a flexible dosing strategy for individualized therapy based on degree of LDL-lowering needed to achieve an adequate treatment response. A key aspect of the COMBO studies is the potential to up-titrate alirocumab-treated patients based on their LDL-C levels after 8 weeks of treatment. The starting dose of 75 mg Q2W was selected to provide an approximate 50% decrease in LDL-C from baseline when added to statin therapy, as determined by a dose-response model [35]. As such, all patients were initially treated with 75 mg Q2W. However, those patients whose LDL-C levels remain ≥70 mg/dL after 8 weeks of treatment were dose up-titrated in a blinded manner at week 12 to 150 mg Q2W without a need to increase the injection volume. With this flexible treatment scheme, most patients can be expected to achieve an LDL-C level of <70 mg/dL without reaching very low LDL-C levels. However, there is the potential that some patients may achieve LDL-C levels of below 25 mg/dL and reducing LDL-C to such very low levels has been controversial with respect to cancers and hemorrhagic stroke risks. Several observational studies have suggested an association between hemorrhagic stroke and low serum cholesterol [36–38]. Consistent with this, the Cholesterol Treatment Trialists' meta-analysis [2] found an excess of hemorrhagic stroke in the meta analysis of more versus less intensive statin regimes, though the excess risk was 50 times less than the beneficial effect on occlusive stroke. No association was found between intensive statin therapy and cancer risk [2]. Nonetheless, since data from patients achieving very low levels of LDL-C are sparse, additional monitoring by the Data Monitoring Committee will be implemented for those patients reaching LDL-C levels of <25 mg/dL to further evaluate the safety of very low LDL-C levels.

The COMBO trials have used differing lipid entry criteria depending on whether entrants had a clinical history of CVD or were CHD risk equivalent. This reflected that at the time of design, the revised ATPIII then operant in the US did not include an unequivocal recommendation of a target <70 mg/dL in all such patients, but left it as a “therapeutic option” reflecting some degree of uncertainty [39]. The new 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines have moved away from citing lipid targets but instead focus on the intensity of statin therapy being tailored to CVD risk [6]. Most of the entrants to the COMBO trials would be eligible for intensive therapy under these new guidelines. Regardless of whether physicians are working to these 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines [6] or guidelines that continue to use LDL-C targets [40], the data the COMBO trial will provide on the efficacy and safety of alirocumab in high-risk patients when administered in addition to maximally tolerated statin therapy will be useful since patients warranting intensive statin therapy may not tolerate it.

Overall, the ODYSSEY program comprises 14 studies of more than 23,500 planned subjects across more than 2,000 study centers worldwide. The program will evaluate multiple patient populations (including patients at high cardiovascular risk, patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, and patients with well-defined statin intolerance) and different treatment options (including alirocumab monotherapy, combination therapy with statins and other LLTs, and flexible dosing options). These studies follow a robust approach to investigate a new class of drugs with a novel mechanism of action, with efficacy and safety studies ranging from 24–104 weeks duration (rather than 12–52 weeks) to provide a greater amount of double-blind safety data for building confidence in alirocumab as a potential therapeutic option. Of note, the ODYSSEY program also includes a large cardiovascular outcomes study (http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01663402) [26] which will determine the long-term impact of alirocumab and lower levels of LDL-C on the occurrence of cardiovascular events in 18,000 patients after a recent (<52 weeks) acute coronary syndrome event, with a randomized treatment period of 64 months.

In summary, the COMBO studies are the longest duration placebo/ezetimibe-controlled trials of a PCSK9 inhibitor in high-risk patients with poorly controlled LDL-C on maximum tolerated standard of care. They will help to guide clinical decision making on the next LLT to use beyond statin therapy.

Abbreviations

ACC:

American College of Cardiology

AE:

Adverse event

AHA:

American Heart Association

Apo:

Apolipoprotein

CHD:

Coronary heart disease

CVD:

Cardiovascular disease

HDL-C:

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol

ITT:

Intent-to-treat

LDL-C:

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol

LDLR:

Low-density lipoprotein receptor

LLT:

Lipid-lowering therapy

Lp(a):

Lipoprotein (a)

mAB:

Monoclonal antibody

MI:

Myocardial infarction

mITT:

Modified ITT

MMRM:

Mixed effect model with repeated measures

PCSK9:

Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9

PO:

Per os

Q2W:

Every 2 weeks

SC:

Subcutaneous

TG:

Triglyceride.

References

  1. Mihaylova B, Emberson J, Blackwell L, Keech A, Simes J, Barnes EH, Voysey M, Gray A, Collins R, Baigent C: The effects of lowering LDL cholesterol with statin therapy in people at low risk of vascular disease: meta-analysis of individual data from 27 randomised trials. Lancet. 2012, 380: 581-590.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Baigent C, Blackwell L, Emberson J, Holland LE, Reith C, Bhala N, Peto R, Barnes EH, Keech A, Simes J, Collins R: Efficacy and safety of more intensive lowering of LDL cholesterol: a meta-analysis of data from 170,000 participants in 26 randomised trials. Lancet. 2010, 376: 1670-1681.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Perk J, De Backer G, Gohlke H, Graham I, Reiner Z, Verschuren M, Albus C, Benlian P, Boysen G, Cifkova R, Deaton C, Ebrahim S, Fisher M, Germano G, Hobbs R, Hoes A, Karadeniz S, Mezzani A, Prescott E, Ryden L, Scherer M, Syvänne M, op Scholte op Reimer WJ, Vrints C, Wood D, Zamorano JL, Zannad F: European Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice (version 2012). The Fifth Joint Task Force of the European Society of Cardiology and Other Societies on Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Clinical Practice (constituted by representatives of nine societies and by invited experts). Eur Heart J. 2012, 2012 (33): 1635-1701.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Reiner Z, Catapano AL, De Backer G, Graham I, Taskinen MR, Wiklund O, Agewall S, Alegria E, Chapman MJ, Durrington P, Erdine S, Halcox J, Hobbs R, Kjekshus J, Filardi PP, Riccardi G, Storey RF, Wood D: ESC/EAS Guidelines for the management of dyslipidaemias: the Task Force for the management of dyslipidaemias of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS). Eur Heart J. 2011, 32: 1769-1818.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Anderson TJ, Gregoire J, Hegele RA, Couture P, Mancini GB, McPherson R, Francis GA, Poirier P, Lau DC, Grover S, Genest J, Carpentier AC, Dufour R, Gupta M, Ward R, Leiter LA, Lonn E, Ng DS, Pearson GJ, Yates GM, Stone JA, Ur E: 2012 update of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of dyslipidemia for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in the adult. Can J Cardiol. 2013, 29: 151-167. 10.1016/j.cjca.2012.11.032.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Stone NJ, Robinson J, Lichtenstein AH, Merz CN, Blum CB, Eckel RH, Goldberg AC, Gordon D, Levy D, Lloyd-Jones DM, McBride P, Schwartz JS, Shero ST, Smith SC, Watson K, Wilson PW, Eddleman KM, Jarrett NM, LaBresh K, Nevo L, Wnek J, Anderson JL, Halperin JL, Albert NM, Bozkurt B, Brindis RG, Curtis LH, DeMets D, Hochman JS, Kovacs RJ, et al: ACC/AHA guideline on the treatment of blood cholesterol to reduce atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk in adults: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association task force on practice guidelines. Circulation. 2014, 129: S1-S45. 10.1161/01.cir.0000437738.63853.7a.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Armitage J, Bowman L, Wallendszus K, Bulbulia R, Rahimi K, Haynes R, Parish S, Peto R, Collins R: Intensive lowering of LDL cholesterol with 80 mg versus 20 mg simvastatin daily in 12,064 survivors of myocardial infarction: a double-blind randomised trial. Lancet. 2010, 376: 1658-1669.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Go AS, Mozaffarian D, Roger VL, Benjamin EJ, Berry JD, Borden WB, Bravata DM, Dai S, Ford ES, Fox CS, Franco S, Fullerton HJ, Gillespie C, Hailpern SM, Heit JA, Howard VJ, Huffman MD, Kissela BM, Kittner SJ, Lackland DT, Lichtman JH, Lisabeth LD, Magid D, Marcus GM, Marelli A, Matchar DB, McGuire DK, Mohler ER, Moy CS, Mussolino ME, et al: Executive summary: heart disease and stroke statistics–2013 update: a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2013, 127: 143-152. 10.1161/CIR.0b013e318282ab8f.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Jones PH, Nair R, Thakker KM: Prevalence of dyslipidemia and lipid goal attainment in statin-treated subjects from 3 data sources: a retrospective analysis. J Am Heart Assoc. 2012, 1: e001800-

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Banegas JR, Lopez-Garcia E, Dallongeville J, Guallar E, Halcox JP, Borghi C, Masso-Gonzalez EL, Jimenez FJ, Perk J, Steg PG, De Backer G, Rodríguez-Artalejo F: Achievement of treatment goals for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in clinical practice across Europe: the EURIKA study. Eur Heart J. 2011, 32: 2143-2152. 10.1093/eurheartj/ehr080.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Gitt AK, Junger C, Smolka W, Bestehorn K: Prevalence and overlap of different lipid abnormalities in statin-treated patients at high cardiovascular risk in clinical practice in Germany. Clin Res Cardiol. 2010, 99: 723-733. 10.1007/s00392-010-0177-z.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Hermans MP, Castro CM, Strandberg T, Ferrieres J, Feely J, Elisaf M, Michel G, Sansoy V: Centralized Pan-European survey on the under-treatment of hypercholesterolaemia (CEPHEUS): overall findings from eight countries. Curr Med Res Opin. 2010, 26: 445-454. 10.1185/03007990903500565.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Kotseva K, Wood D, De Backer G, De Backer D, Pyorala K, Keil U: Cardiovascular prevention guidelines in daily practice: a comparison of EUROASPIRE I, II, and III surveys in eight European countries. Lancet. 2009, 373: 929-940. 10.1016/S0140-6736(09)60330-5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Boden WE, Probstfield JL, Anderson T, Chaitman BR, Desvignes-Nickens P, Koprowicz K, McBride R, Teo K, Weintraub W: Niacin in patients with low HDL cholesterol levels receiving intensive statin therapy. N Engl J Med. 2011, 365: 2255-2267.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Ginsberg HN, Elam MB, Lovato LC, Crouse JR, Leiter LA, Linz P, Friedewald WT, Buse JB, Gerstein HC, Probstfield J, Grimm RH, Ismail-Beigi F, Bigger JT, Goff DC, Cushman WC, Simons-Morton DG, Byington RP: Effects of combination lipid therapy in type 2 diabetes mellitus. N Engl J Med. 2010, 362: 1563-1574.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Seidah NG, Benjannet S, Wickham L, Marcinkiewicz J, Jasmin SB, Stifani S, Basak A, Prat A, Chretien M: The secretory proprotein convertase neural apoptosis-regulated convertase 1 (NARC-1): liver regeneration and neuronal differentiation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003, 100: 928-933. 10.1073/pnas.0335507100.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Chan JC, Piper DE, Cao Q, Liu D, King C, Wang W, Tang J, Liu Q, Higbee J, Xia Z, Di Y, Shetterly S, Arimura Z, Salomonis H, Romanow WG, Thibault ST, Zhang R, Cao P, Yang XP, Yu T, Lu M, Retter MW, Kwon G, Henne K, Pan O, Tsai MM, Fuchslocher B, Yang E, Zhou L, Lee KJ, et al: A proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 neutralizing antibody reduces serum cholesterol in mice and nonhuman primates. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009, 106: 9820-9825. 10.1073/pnas.0903849106.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  18. Welder G, Zineh I, Pacanowski MA, Troutt JS, Cao G, Konrad RJ: High-dose atorvastatin causes a rapid sustained increase in human serum PCSK9 and disrupts its correlation with LDL cholesterol. J Lipid Res. 2010, 51: 2714-2721. 10.1194/jlr.M008144.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Farnier M: PCSK9 inhibitors. Curr Opin Lipidol. 2013, 24: 251-258. 10.1097/MOL.0b013e3283613a3d.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Cariou B, Le May C, Costet P: Clinical aspects of PCSK9. Atherosclerosis. 2011, 216: 258-265. 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2011.04.018.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Stein EA, Gipe D, Bergeron J, Gaudet D, Weiss R, Dufour R, Wu R, Pordy R: Effect of a monoclonal antibody to PCSK9, REGN727/SAR236553, to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia on stable statin dose with or without ezetimibe therapy: a phase 2 randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2012, 380: 29-36. 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60771-5.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. McKenney JM, Koren MJ, Kereiakes DJ, Hanotin C, Ferrand AC, Stein EA: Safety and efficacy of a monoclonal antibody to proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 serine protease, SAR236553/REGN727, in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia receiving ongoing stable atorvastatin therapy. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2012, 59: 2344-2353. 10.1016/j.jacc.2012.03.007.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Roth EM, McKenney JM, Hanotin C, Asset G, Stein EA: Atorvastatin with or without an antibody to PCSK9 in primary hypercholesterolemia. N Engl J Med. 2012, 367: 1891-1900. 10.1056/NEJMoa1201832.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Siddiqui O, Hung HM, O’Neill R: MMRM vs. LOCF: a comprehensive comparison based on simulation study and 25 NDA datasets. J Biopharm Stat. 2009, 19: 227-246. 10.1080/10543400802609797.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. National Research Council: The Prevention and Treatment of Missing Data in Clinical Trials. Panel on Handling Missing Data in Clinical Trials. Committee on National Statistics, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education. 2010, Washington, DC: The National Academies Press

    Google Scholar 

  26. Schwartz GG, Bessac L, Berdan LG, Bhatt DL, Bittner V, Diaz R, Goodman SG, Hanotin C, Harrington RA, Jukema JA, Mahaffey KW, Moryusef A, Pordy R, Roe MT, Rorick T, Sasiela WJ, Shirodaria C, Szarek M, Tamby JF, Tricoci P, White H, Zeiher A, Steg PG: Effect of alirocumab, a monoclonal antibody to PCSK9, on long-term cardiovascular outcomes following acute coronary syndromes: Rationale and design of the ODYSSEY Outcomes trial. Am Heart J. ᅟ, ᅟ: ᅟ-in press

    Google Scholar 

  27. Wang KF, Chang CC, Wang KL, Wu CH, Chen LC, Lu TM, Lin SJ, Chiang CE: Determinants of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goal attainment: Insights from the CEPHEUS Pan-Asian Survey. J Chin Med Assoc. 2014, 77: 61-67. 10.1016/j.jcma.2013.10.013.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Keating AJ, Campbell KB, Guyton JR: Intermittent nondaily dosing strategies in patients with previous statin-induced myopathy. Ann Pharmacother. 2013, 47: 398-404. 10.1345/aph.1R509.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Xanthopoulou I, Davlouros P, Siahos S, Perperis A, Zaharioglou E, Alexopoulos D: First-line treatment patterns and lipid target levels attainment in very high cardiovascular risk outpatients. Lipids Health Dis. 2013, 12: 170-10.1186/1476-511X-12-170.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  30. Karalis DG, Victor B, Ahedor L, Liu L: Use of Lipid-Lowering Medications and the Likelihood of Achieving Optimal LDL-Cholesterol Goals in Coronary Artery Disease Patients. Cholesterol. 2012, 2012: 861924-

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  31. Arca M, Pigna G: Treating statin-intolerant patients. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2011, 4: 155-166.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  32. Jackevicius CA, Mamdani M, Tu JV: Adherence with statin therapy in elderly patients with and without acute coronary syndromes. JAMA. 2002, 288: 462-467. 10.1001/jama.288.4.462.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Toth PP, Foody JM, Tomassini JE, Sajjan SG, Ramey DR, Neff DR, Tershakovec AM, Hu XH, Tunceli K: Therapeutic practice patterns related to statin potency and ezetimibe/simvastatin combination therapies in lowering LDL-C in patients with high-risk cardiovascular disease. J Clin Lipidol. 2014, 8: 107-116. 10.1016/j.jacl.2013.09.009.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Morrone D, Weintraub WS, Toth PP, Hanson ME, Lowe RS, Lin J, Shah AK, Tershakovec AM: Lipid-altering efficacy of ezetimibe plus statin and statin monotherapy and identification of factors associated with treatment response: a pooled analysis of over 21,000 subjects from 27 clinical trials. Atherosclerosis. 2012, 223: 251-261. 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2012.02.016.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Pordy R, Lecorps G, Bessac L, Sasiela WJ, Ginsberg HN: Alirocumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody to proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9: therapeutic dosing in phase 3 studies. J Clin Lipidol. 2013, 7: 279-

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Lewington S, Whitlock G, Clarke R, Sherliker P, Emberson J, Halsey J, Qizilbash N, Peto R, Collins R: Blood cholesterol and vascular mortality by age, sex, and blood pressure: a meta-analysis of individual data from 61 prospective studies with 55,000 vascular deaths. Lancet. 2007, 370: 1829-1839.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Iso H, Jacobs DR, Wentworth D, Neaton JD, Cohen JD: Serum cholesterol levels and six-year mortality from stroke in 350,977 men screened for the multiple risk factor intervention trial. N Engl J Med. 1989, 320: 904-910. 10.1056/NEJM198904063201405.

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Goldstein LB: Low LDL cholesterol, statins, and brain hemorrhage: should we worry?. Neurology. 2007, 68: 719-720. 10.1212/01.wnl.0000258538.06950.a1.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Grundy SM, Cleeman JI, Merz CN, Brewer HB, Clark LT, Hunninghake DB, Pasternak RC, Smith SC, Stone NJ: Implications of recent clinical trials for the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines. Circulation. 2004, 110: 227-239. 10.1161/01.CIR.0000133317.49796.0E.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Anderson TJ, Gregoire J, Hegele RA, Couture P, Mancini GB, McPherson R, Francis GA, Poirier P, Lau DC, Grover S, Genest J, Carpentier AC, Dufour R, Gupta M, Ward R, Leiter LA, Lonn E, Ng DS, Pearson GJ, Yates GM, Stone JA, Ur E: Are the ACC/AHA guidelines on the treatment of blood cholesterol a game changer? A perspective from the Canadian Cardiovascular Society Dyslipidemia Panel. Can J Cardiol. 2014, 30: 377-380. 10.1016/j.cjca.2014.01.009.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Pre-publication history

Download references

Acknowledgements

The ODYSSEY COMBO studies were supported by Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; medical writing support was provided by Neil Venn (Prime Medica Ltd, Knutsford, Cheshire, UK), supported by Sanofi and Regeneron. Responsibility for all opinions, conclusions, and interpretation of data lies with the authors.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland, DD2 4BF, UK

    Helen M Colhoun

  2. University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA

    Jennifer G Robinson

  3. Point Médical, Dijon, France

    Michel Farnier

  4. L’Institut du Thorax, CHU de Nantes, Nantes, France

    Bertrand Cariou

  5. Division of Lipidology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town and MRC Cape Heart Group, Cape Town, South Africa

    Dirk Blom

  6. The Carl and Edyth Lindner Center for Research and Education at The Christ Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Dean J Kereiakes

  7. Sanofi, Paris, France

    Christelle Lorenzato

  8. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tarrytown, NY, USA

    Robert Pordy

  9. Sanofi, Bridgewater, NJ, USA

    Umesh Chaudhari

Authors
  1. Helen M Colhoun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jennifer G Robinson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Michel Farnier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Bertrand Cariou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Dirk Blom
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Dean J Kereiakes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Christelle Lorenzato
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Robert Pordy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Umesh Chaudhari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Helen M Colhoun.

Additional information

Competing interests

The ODYSSEY COMBO studies were supported by Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

HMC is a consultant or on an advisory panel for Pfizer, Sanofi Aventis, Regeneron, Novartis, and Eli Lilly, has received research support from Roche, Pfizer, Eli Lilly, Boehringer Ingelheim, and AstraZeneca, has participated in a lecture/speaker’s bureau and received honorarium from Pfizer, and is a shareholder in Roche.

JGR is employed by a university that has received research funds from Amarin, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Daiichi-Sankyo, Genetech/Hoffman La Roche, Glaxo-Smith Kline, Merck, Regeneron/Sanofi, and Zinfandel/Takeda, and is a consultant for Amgen, Hoffman La Roche, Merck, Pfizer, Sanofi, and Regeneron.

MF has received grant/research support and speaker’s honoraria from Amgen, Merck and Sanofi, has received honoraria from Abbott, Eli Lilly and Pfizer, and served as a consultant and advisor for Amgen, Astra Zeneca, Kowa, Merck, Recordati, Roche, Sanofi/Regeneron, and SMB.

BC has received research funds from Sanofi Aventis, and is a consultant or on an advisory panel for Amgen, Astra-Zeneca, DebioPharm, Janssen, Eli Lilly, Genfit, Novo-Nordisk and Sanofi-Aventis.

DB is a consultant or on an advisory panel for Aegerion, Amgen, AstraZeneca, MSD, and Sanofi Aventis. DB’s institution has received payment for conducting clinical trials from Aegerion, Amgen, Eli Lilly, Novartis, and Sanofi/Regeneron. DB has participated in a lecture/speaker’s bureau or received honoraria from Aegerion, Amgen, AstraZeneca, MSD, Pfizer, Sanofi Aventis, Servier, and Unilever.

DJK has received consulting fees from Medpace, HCRI, Ablative Solutions, Inc., Boston Scientific, Abbott Vascular, and REVA Medical Inc.

CL and UC are employees of Sanofi.

RP is an employee of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Authors’ contributions

HMC, JGR, MF, CL, RP and UC were involved in the design and coordination of the study. BC, DB and DJK were involved in the coordination of the study and recruitment of patients, and are involved in the ongoing collection of data. CL developed the statistical analysis plan. HMC, JGR, MF, CL, RP and UC outlined the initial draft of the article. All authors have reviewed subsequent drafts of the manuscript throughout development and provided critical revisions. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Electronic supplementary material

Authors’ original submitted files for images

Below are the links to the authors’ original submitted files for images.

Authors’ original file for figure 1

Authors’ original file for figure 2

Rights and permissions

This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Colhoun, H.M., Robinson, J.G., Farnier, M. et al. Efficacy and safety of alirocumab, a fully human PCSK9 monoclonal antibody, in high cardiovascular risk patients with poorly controlled hypercholesterolemia on maximally tolerated doses of statins: rationale and design of the ODYSSEY COMBO I and II trials. BMC Cardiovasc Disord 14, 121 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2261-14-121

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2261-14-121

Keywords

  • Alirocumab
  • Ezetimibe
  • Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
  • Monoclonal antibody
  • Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9

BMC Cardiovascular Disorders

ISSN: 1471-2261

Contact us