I was reading here that there’s a new cholesterol-lowering drug in the pipeline. The Food and Drugs Administration in the US has approved the injectable agent mipomersen for the treatment of ‘homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia – a genetic cause of raised cholesterol levels associated with cardiovascular disease developing early in life. Mipomersen has been shown to reduce low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels by about a quarter. The hope is that this will help reduce the risk of individuals suffering premature death from, most likely, heart attack.
I’ve used the word ‘hope’ in the preceding sentence but, in reality, the FDA panel that has ratified mipomersen has no idea whether it has health benefits or not. That’s because the studies used to assess this drug were not large enough in scope to detect change in ‘clinical endpoints’ such as risk of heart attack or death. In other words, the licensing of this drug has been on the basis of its impact on ‘surrogate endpoints’ (in this case, cholesterol levels), rather than clinical endpoints (the thing that really matters).
And I’m not splitting hairs either, as we already have examples in the not-too distant past of drugs that promised a lot in terms of their impact on cholesterol, but failed to deliver in terms of actual health. For example, the drug ezetimibe is a proven cholesterol-lowerer, yet not one single study to dates demonstrates it has benefits in terms of clinical endpoints. Also, the drug torcetrapib looked at one time to be a new hero of cholesterol management, until appropriately designed studies found it was killing people (it’s since been dropped).
But the principle that something that benefits cholesterol does not necessarily benefit health does seem to have been somewhat lost on the FDA. And worse still, it seems the panel may have put their faith in cholesterol modification above some quite troubling data. Here you can read how the FDA’s own review of mipomersen revealed a number of concerns about this drug. Here’s an excerpt from the article:
Serious adverse events of cardiac disorders occurred in 3.8% (10/261) of patients in the mipomersen group compared with 3.1% (4/129) in the placebo group. The reviewers concluded that “the possibility that mipomersen therapy increases the risk for cardiovascular events cannot be excluded.”
Other concerns were raised by the finding that mipomersen increased the levels of ‘liver enzymes’ and increased the amount of fat in the liver (both signs of damage to the liver). Here’s another except:
The FDA reviewers said they did not know whether long-term use of mipomersen could cause irreversible liver damage, but warned that patients could be at risk for cirrhosis and liver-related death if the observed liver changes progressed.
And perhaps worse still, there’s even concern that mipomersen might have cancer-inducing potential:
According to the review, during clinical testing neoplasms, both benign and malignant, were detected in 3.1% (23/749) of patients who received mipomersen compared with 0.9% (2/221) of patients who received placebo. However, the FDA clinical reviewer noted that there was a diversity of malignant neoplasms and that two out of nine mipomersen patients who developed a malignancy had been on mipomersen for less than a month, “making it highly unlikely that mipomersen played a role.” The review concluded that ”there are several confounding factors that make it difficult to conclude that mipomersen is playing a dominant role in this cancer imbalance.”
Forgive me, but personally I detect a hint of ‘sweeping the issue under the carpet’ here. The same thing, by the way, happened with ezetimibe, which has been shown to increase the risk of death from cancer, an effect which researchers put down to chance (even though the effect was statistically significant and therefore highly unlikely to be due to chance). See here for more about this.
The FDA panel’s vote on mipomersen was relatively close (9 v 6), so at least some members of the panel had their doubts. It is said that the severe nature of homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia was a major determining factor in swaying the vote. That’s laudable, perhaps, but I don’t think it excuses the fact that this drug has been licensed despite an absence of data that it benefits health, as well as the presence of data which points very much in the opposite direction.
In 2002 I found I had very elevated levels of apolipoprotein-a (little a). The cardiologist I went to in Sydney told me there is no treatment via statins. He did recommend the use of 6 gms of vitamin c daily plus L-Lysine 500mg daily. ( this is the Rath-Pauling approach). My dietician also suggested taking 9 grams of fish oil daily. I have adopted these recommendations since. I do not share the mainstream view that statins are the lifesavers they are said to be. Anyway I am still alive. Enjoy reading your emails. Thank You.
@ Carl
Interesting post. What element of cholesterol is apolipoprotein-a? Reassuring to see that not all medical practioners suggest statins and look at supplements and diet. Good for them (and you!).
This familial elevated cholesterol is commonly associated with thyroid imbalances, but then so is elevated cholesterol for many others, including women in the menopausal stages of life or if you’ve used BCP over many years. And it just goes on and on with no real effort to find the causal factors, especially here in the states.
Have never heard of familial hypercholesteraemia and link to thyroid – thought the two were independent of each other. And wondered what BCP was an abbreviation for? Would be interested in your further comments on these, Gayle, if you can respond?
More and more of us Houstonians are stearing clear of statins; what with googling “statins”, is enough of a blow to anyone facing what to do about high cholestral; You do not have to go with chemical drugs which is suggested by all physicians as plan A; ask them about plan B (the natural way) and they will surprisingly have answers; There are too many chemical prescription drugs causing side effects with each other. Go natural! Try apple cider vinegar pills; do some research before you go to statin drugs.