Background: Tafolecimab is a novel fully human proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) monoclonal antibody, developed for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia.
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of tafolecimab in Chinese patients at high or very high cardiovascular risk with hypercholesterolemia.
Methods: Patients with diagnoses of heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) by the Simon Broome criteria or at high or very high cardiovascular risk with nonfamilial hypercholesterolemia, with screening low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level ≥1.8 mmol/L, were randomized 2:1 to receive tafolecimab or placebo 450 mg every 4 weeks (Q4W) in the 12-week double-blind treatment period. The primary endpoint was the percent change from baseline to week 12 in LDL-C levels.
Results: A total of 303 patients were enrolled and received at least 1 dose of tafolecimab (n = 205) or placebo (n = 98). The least squares mean percent change in LDL-C level from baseline to week 12 was -68.9% (SE 1.4%) in the tafolecimab group and -5.8% (1.8%) in the placebo group (difference: -63.0%; [95% CI: -66.5% to -59.6%]; P < 0.0001). More patients treated with tafolecimab achieved ≥50% LDL-C reductions, LDL-C <1.8 mmol/L, and LDL-C <1.4 mmol/L at week 12 than did those in the placebo group (all P < 0.0001). Furthermore, tafolecimab markedly reduced non-HDL-C, apolipoprotein B, and lipoprotein(a) levels. During the double-blind treatment period, the most commonly reported adverse events included urinary tract infection (5.9% with tafolecimab vs 4.1% with placebo) and hyperuricemia (3.4% vs 4.1%).
Conclusions: Tafolecimab was safe and showed robust lipid-lowering efficacy in Chinese patients at high or very high cardiovascular risk with hypercholesterolemia. (A Study of IBI306 in Participants With Hypercholesterolemia; NCT04709536).
Keywords: coronary artery disease; hypercholesterolemia; low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; tafolecimab.
© 2023 The Authors.