ACC: CCTA substudy finds no plaque change with triglyceride-lowering drug

A coronary CT angiography (CCTA) substudy of the Essence-TIMI 73b trial found no significant change in noncalcified coronary plaque volume after one year of treatment with the triglyceride-lowering drug olezarsen.

The findings were presented March 30 at the American College of Cardiology's (ACC) Annual Scientific Session (ACC.26).

The substudy included 468 participants with triglyceride levels of 150 mg/dL or higher and measurable plaque on baseline CCTA who underwent repeat CCTA at 12 months. Participants were randomized to receive olezarsen at 50 mg or 80 mg daily or placebo; those receiving either dose were pooled for the imaging analysis.

The primary endpoint was percent change in noncalcified plaque volume -- a softer plaque type considered more prone to rupture and arterial blockage -- between baseline and 12-month scans. Despite a 60% reduction in triglycerides and 15% lowering of apolipoprotein B, neither endpoint differed significantly between the olezarsen and placebo groups, nor did related secondary endpoints.

The study was funded by Ionis Pharmaceuticals, maker of olezarsen, and its results were simultaneously published in Circulation, the ACC said.