Amgen‘s cholesterol-lowering medication Repatha® (evolocumab) dramatically reduces the risk of a first major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) in high-risk patients by 25%, according to groundbreaking results from the Phase 3 VESALIUS-CV trial.
Over 12,000 high-risk adults with diabetes or atherosclerosis who had never experienced a heart attack or stroke participated in the historic trial, which represents a significant breakthrough in preventative cardiology. The results were concurrently published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the 2025 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions.
Repatha showed a strong protective effect when used with common therapies like statins. When comparing the Repatha group to the placebo group, the primary endpoint, a composite of coronary heart disease mortality, heart attack, or ischaemic stroke, was lowered by 25%.
Key findings from the VESALIUS-CV trial include
- 25% Reduction in First MACE: A notable drop in the chance of dying from coronary heart disease, having a first heart attack, or having a stroke.
- 36% Decrease in Heart Attack Risk: The study also revealed a striking 36% decrease in the risk of a heart attack on its own.
- Broad Cardiovascular Protection: There was a 19% decrease in a broader composite measure of cardiovascular events, which included arterial revascularisation.
Read More: Amgen Announces Positive Phase 3 Results for Gastric Cancer Drug Bemarituzumab
According to these findings, Repatha is the first and only PCSK9 inhibitor to show a noteworthy decrease in cardiovascular events in patients for both primary prevention (those without a prior event) and secondary prevention.
The experiment also demonstrated Repatha’s significant effect on reducing “bad” cholesterol. The median LDL-C level for patients in the Repatha arm was 45 mg/dL, while that of patients in the placebo arm was 109 mg/dL.
75% of deaths from cardiovascular disease occur in individuals who have never had one before, making it the world’s top cause of death. For many at-risk patients, including the roughly 60% of trial participants with diabetes, this study offers fresh hope.
During the experiment, no new safety issues were identified, and Repatha’s safety profile remained consistent with previous findings.
Last Modified:
Graduated from the University of Kerala with B.Sc. Botany and Biotechnology. Attained Post-Graduation in Biotechnology from the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Science (KUFOS) with the third rank. Conducted various seminars and attended major Science conferences. Done 6 months of internship in ICMR – National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad. 5 years of tutoring experience.
