Novel Oral Drug Muvalaplin Lowers Lipoprotein (a) Levels: Clinical Trial Findings

A late-breaking clinical trial has shown that muvalaplin, an innovative oral medication, can safely and effectively lower elevated levels of lipoprotein (a), a key cardiovascular risk factor. These findings were presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2024, held from November 16-18 in Chicago, a premier global event showcasing cutting-edge advancements in cardiovascular science.

The study, simultaneously published in JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association, highlights the potential of muvalaplin as a promising new therapy in cardiovascular care, addressing a significant unmet need for individuals with high lipoprotein (a) levels.

Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), is a type of inherited cholesterol level that is a common, independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, affecting about 1 in 5 people worldwide. Black individuals of African descent and South Asian populations often have the highest Lp(a) levels, according to the American Heart Association’s 2021scientific statement “Lipoprotein(a): A Genetically Determined, Causal, and Prevalent Risk Factor for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease.” It is different from low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad” cholesterol. Lp(a) numbers of 50 mg/dL (125 nmol/L) or higher promote clotting and inflammation, significantly increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, aortic stenosis and peripheral artery disease, especially for people who also have cardiovascular disease or familial hypercholesterolemia.

There are several injectable medications undergoing clinical evaluation as treatments to lower Lp(a) levels. However, none have yet been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

“Most medications being developed to lower Lp(a) are injectable. Muvalaplin is the first oral agent being developed to lower Lp(a) levels and acts by disrupting formation of the Lp(a) particle,” said study author Stephen Nicholls, MBBS, Ph.D., director of the Victorian Heart Institute at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.

The KRAKEN clinical trial included 233 adults around the world who were identified at high risk of having a cardiovascular event due to very high Lp(a) levels (greater than 175 nmol/L). Researchers evaluated the effects of muvalaplin at different doses—10 mg, 60 mg or 240 mg, taken daily-compared with a daily placebo for 12 weeks. The researchers tested Lp(a) levels using both the traditional Lp(a) blood test and a new test that more specifically measures the levels of intact Lp(a) particles in the blood.

At week 12, the study found:

• Compared to placebo, muvalaplin treatment reduced Lp(a) by up to 70% as measured by the traditional blood test, and by up to 85.5% as measured by the new intact Lp(a) particle test. Participants who received either 60 or 240 mg of muvalaplin had similar reductions in Lp(a) levels, both of which were greater than the reductions in Lp(a) levels of participants who received 10 mg of muvalaplin.
• Muvalaplin treatment resulted in approximately 97% of participants achieving Lp(a) lower than 125 nmol/L, as measured by the intact Lp(a) particle test, or approximately 82% of participants as measured with the traditional blood test.
• Compared to placebo, muvalaplin lowered apoB, one of two major proteins that make up Lp(a), by as much as 16%, with no notable change in levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive Protein (hsCRP), which is a way to measure heart attack and stroke risk.

“We were encouraged by the degree of Lp(a)-lowering in these patients who are most likely to benefit from its use and by the safety and tolerability,” Nicholls said. “While muvalaplin appears to be an effective approach to lowering Lp(a) levels, we still need to study whether Lp(a) lowering will result in fewer heart attacks and strokes.”

The study had limitations, including that it was relatively small and trial participants were treated for only 12 weeks. “Larger, more diverse and longer-term studies are needed,” Nicholls noted.

Reference:

Stephen J. Nicholls et al, Oral Muvalaplin for Lowering of Lipoprotein(a): A Randomized Clinical Trial, JAMA (2024). DOI: 10.1001/jama.2024.24017