“Overall the results are encouraging that these [PCSK9 inhibitors] may not cause dysglycemia-like statins do,” Dr. Sattar said.
During the discussion, it was noted that statins were used in the standard of care group, but the number of patients using statins at the start of the open studies was so small that it is unlikely to have biased the results seen and will be addressed when the paper is drafted for publication, he said.
The Food and Drug Administration recently approved evolocumab (Repatha) for use in addition to diet and maximally tolerated statin therapy in adults with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, or clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, who require additional lowering of LDL-C.
Amgen sponsored the OSLER studies. Dr Sattar reported financial relationships with Amgen, Merck, and Sanofi.