Effect of olezarsen targeting APOC-III on lipoprotein size and particle number measured by NMR in patients with hypertriglyceridemia
Ewa Karwatowska‐Prokopczuk, Jean‐Claude Tardif, Daniel Gaudet, Christie M. Ballantyne, Michael D. Shapiro, Patrick M. Moriarty, Seth J. Baum, Eric St Amour, Veronica J. Alexander, Shuting Xia, James D. Otvos, Joseph L. Witztum, Sotirios Tsimikas
Abstract
•NMR analysis was performed in subjects treated with the ASO olezarsen.•Olezarsen reduced triglyceride-rich lipoprotein particle number.•Olezarsen induced remodeling to larger LDL particles.•Olezarsen resulted in an increase in small HDL particle number.•ApoC-III inhibition improves the overall atherogenic risk profile. BackgroundOlezarsen is a hepatocyte-targeted, GalNAc-modified antisense oligonucleotide that decreases plasma levels of apolipoprotein C-III (apoC-III) and triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRLs).ObjectiveTo define the effect of olezarsen on NMR-derived lipoprotein particle size and concentration.MethodsPatients (n=114) with or at risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and fasting triglycerides ≥200 and <500 mg/dL received olezarsen (10 or 50 mg every 4 weeks, 15 mg every 2 weeks, or 10 mg every week) or saline placebo subcutaneously for 6–12 months. NMR LipoProfile® analysis was performed in frozen EDTA plasma samples collected at baseline and at the primary analysis timepoint (PAT) at 6 months.ResultsA dose-dependent relationship was generally noted with increasing cumulative doses of olezarsen in TRL particle (TRLP), LDL particle (LDL-P) and HDL (HDL-P) particle concentrations. In the 50 mg every 4 weeks dose, compared to placebo, olezarsen resulted in a significant reduction in total TRL-P (51%, P<0.0001) with largest reductions in large-size (68%, P<0.0001) and medium-size (63%, P<0.0001) TRL-P. Total LDL-P concentration was not changed, but large LDL-P increased by 186% (p=0.0034), and small LDL-P decreased by 39% (p=0.0713). Total HDL-P concentration increased by 15% (P=0.0006), driven primarily by a 32% increase in small HDL subspecies (diameters <8.3 nm) (P=0.0008).ConclusionOlezarsen results in favorable changes in lipoprotein concentration and particle size, primarily manifested by reduction in TRLs, remodeling to larger LDL particles, and increase in small HDL-P. These findings suggest that apoC-III inhibition improves the overall atherogenic risk profile. Olezarsen is a hepatocyte-targeted, GalNAc-modified antisense oligonucleotide that decreases plasma levels of apolipoprotein C-III (apoC-III) and triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRLs). To define the effect of olezarsen on NMR-derived lipoprotein particle size and concentration. Patients (n=114) with or at risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and fasting triglycerides ≥200 and <500 mg/dL received olezarsen (10 or 50 mg every 4 weeks, 15 mg every 2 weeks, or 10 mg every week) or saline placebo subcutaneously for 6–12 months. NMR LipoProfile® analysis was performed in frozen EDTA plasma samples collected at baseline and at the primary analysis timepoint (PAT) at 6 months. A dose-dependent relationship was generally noted with increasing cumulative doses of olezarsen in TRL particle (TRLP), LDL particle (LDL-P) and HDL (HDL-P) particle concentrations. In the 50 mg every 4 weeks dose, compared to placebo, olezarsen resulted in a significant reduction in total TRL-P (51%, P<0.0001) with largest reductions in large-size (68%, P<0.0001) and medium-size (63%, P<0.0001) TRL-P. Total LDL-P concentration was not changed, but large LDL-P increased by 186% (p=0.0034), and small LDL-P decreased by 39% (p=0.0713). Total HDL-P concentration increased by 15% (P=0.0006), driven primarily by a 32% increase in small HDL subspecies (diameters <8.3 nm) (P=0.0008). Olezarsen results in favorable changes in lipoprotein concentration and particle size, primarily manifested by reduction in TRLs, remodeling to larger LDL particles, and increase in small HDL-P. These findings suggest that apoC-III inhibition improves the overall atherogenic risk profile.