Protecting Our Patients From ASCVD: Optimizing the Use of Non-Statin Therapies

Target Audience
This educational program is directed toward cardiologists, lipidologists, internists, NPs, PAs, and other HCPs who treat patients with dyslipidemia.

Program Overview
Elevated cholesterol levels, including low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), cholesterol carried in LDL, intermediate density lipoprotein, lipoprotein(a), very low-density and remnant lipoprotein, are a root cause of atherosclerosis. Clinical trials have demonstrated that lowering elevated atherogenic cholesterol levels reduces the risk for heart attack and stroke. Statins are the cornerstone pharmacologic therapy for the management of hypercholesterolemia, but a relatively large segment of the population with hypercholesterolemia remains at residual CVD risk despite taking statins, indicating a need for new therapies. In recent years, novel non-statin therapies have become available for these patients. In 2015, two treatment modalities from a new class of lipid-lowering drugs, proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors (PCSK9i), were approved for use by the FDA. And in February 2020, bempedoic acid and bempedoic acid/ezetimibe were Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved as add-on treatments for patients taking a high dose of statins and still in need of additional LDL-C reduction.

This continuing medical education (CME) activity assists clinicians in managing hypercholesterolemia in accordance with the latest clinical evidence and guidelines, with an emphasis on understanding unmet needs in statin therapy and the role of non-statin therapies. Moreover, given the rapid rate at which this field is evolving and the novel therapies being investigated, clinicians also need to be aware of emerging approaches so that they are confident about integrating new therapies into their clinical practice as they become available.

Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this activity, you should be better prepared to:

Apply guideline recommendations to individualize non-statin therapies for patients with hypercholesterolemia
Select individualized treatment utilizing non-statin therapies for patients with elevated LDL-C
Evaluate the efficacy and safety of current and emerging non-statin therapies for the management of patients with hypercholesterolemia