FDA approves Juxtapid (Aegerion Pharma) for patients with Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia

The FDA has approved Juxtapid (lomitapide), from Aegerion Pharma, as an adjunct to diet and other lipid-lowering treatments to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), apolipoprotein B (apo B) and non-high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL) in patients with Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia (HoFH). The FDA based its approval on a pivotal Phase III study, which evaluated the safety and effectiveness of the medicine to reduce LDL-C levels in 29 adult patients with HoFH. The study showed the drug significantly reduced LDL-C by 40% at Week 26 in the intent-to-treat population. LDL-C was reduced by an average of 50% for the 23 patients who completed the study through Week 26. After Week 26, during the safety phase of the study, adjustments to concomitant lipid-lowering treatments were allowed. Average reductions in LDL-C were sustained during chronic therapy.