UK researchers recruit patients for study of bempedoic acid

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London are recruiting patients for the CLEAR Outcomes Study to evaluate the effectiveness of new cholesterol-lowering drug bempedoic acid.

As part of the trial, researchers will see if bempedoic acid can reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes in statin-intolerant patients who are at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

For the CLEAR Outcomes Study, a total of 14,000 patients are being recruited from 1,000 sites located in more than 30 countries.

The participant needs to take either bempedoic acid or a placebo daily for two to five years, with regular health checks and tests over the course of the study for the monitoring of cholesterol levels and other health factors.

Queen Mary University of London William Harvey Research Institute lead researcher Dr Manish Saxena said: “Statins are effective in lowering bad cholesterol in the body and prevent heart attacks and strokes. Unfortunately, a small number of patients are unable to tolerate statins due to side effects such as muscle aches and pains.

“This new drug called bempedoic acid is well-tolerated in these patients and previous studies have shown it to be safe and efficacious in lowering bad cholesterol.

“This long-term study is investigating its effect on preventing heart attacks and strokes in high-risk patients.”

Bempedoic acid is expected to be a safe alternative treatment option for lowering cholesterol in patients who do not tolerate statins.

Both statins and bempedoic acid inhibit the creation of cholesterol in the liver and reduce cholesterol.