“CLEAR ADVANTAGE” FROM TARGETING INFLAMMATION RISK OVER LDL RISK

ABSTRACT Statins and bempedoic acid (BA) additively and independently lower CRP. Recent secondary analyses of the CLEAR trials found CRP lowering more effective than LDL lowering at reducing MACE (major adverse cardiovascular events) thereby suggesting an advantage from targeting CRP over LDL. Statins lower CRP by via targeting eNOS, whereas BA lowers CRP via targeting ATP citrate lyase. The rationale for combining atorvastatin 80 with BA 180 is to simultaneously target two independent mechanisms for lowering CRP in patients with high risk of MACE from vascular inflammation.