A retrospective cohort at seven German specialist lipid clinics compared LDL-C before and about three months after 641 patients started bempedoic acid. Mean LDL-C fell from 133.6 to 101.8 mg/dL, a reduction of 17.5%, larger in those on no other lipid-lowering therapy (27.1%) than in those already on a statin and ezetimibe (6.1%). Suspected adverse events were recorded in 34.0% and 26.7% had stopped by follow-up, most often for myalgia, and the endpoint is a surrogate measured at three months.
Why it is interesting: Real-world reduction and discontinuation for a recently marketed lipid-lowering drug, set against what its trials led clinicians to expect.