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SearchResults reveal the drug significantly lowers the risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism
A new assessment of the Cleveland Clinic-led CLEAR Outcomes trial – which found that bempedoic acid (a cholesterol-lowering drug)lowered low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and reduced heart attacks in statin-intolerant patients – also lowers the risk of dangerous blood clots called venous thromboembolism in those same patients.
Findings from the new post hoc analysis were published today in JAMA Cardiology.
A venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a blood clot that blocks the flow of blood through your veins. A VTE can be stuck in the deep veins of the legs or arms (deep vein thrombosis) or travel through the veins to the lungs (pulmonary embolism), which has the potential to be life-threatening.
The new analysis looked back at the 2023 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled cardiovascular outcomes study involving 13,970 participants across 32 countries. Participants were statin intolerant and either had established cardiovascular disease or were considered at high cardiovascular risk. Patients were randomized to receive either oral bempedoic acid 180 mg or placebo once daily. In the new analysis, researchers found that more than three years later, patients treated with bempedoic acid experienced a significantly lower incidence of VTE compared with placebo. Overall, VTE events occurred in 0.7% of patients receiving bempedoic acid compared with 1.2% in the placebo group, representing a 42% relative risk reduction.
“Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are significant contributors to cardiovascular-related illness and deaths,” said Luke Laffin, M.D., senior author and medical director of the Cleveland Clinic Coordinating Center for Clinical Research (C5Research) in the Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute at Cleveland Clinic. “While statins and PCSK9 inhibitors have previously demonstrated reduced VTE risk, the effect of bempedoic acid on VTE was unknown, until now. This is another added benefit to a population of patients who require statins but suffer troublesome side-effects.”
Bempedoic acid is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as an additional treatment to help lower cholesterol in patients with certain conditions who have high cholesterol despite maximally tolerated statin therapy. Bempedoic acid differs from statins by not activating until it reaches the liver, limiting the drug’s effects on muscle, or other tissues or organs, reducing the likelihood of side effects.
The study was funded by Esperion Therapeutics, developer of bempedoic acid.
Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation, Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. Cleveland Clinic is consistently recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for its expertise and care. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 83,000 employees worldwide are more than 6,600 salaried physicians and researchers, and 21,900 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,725-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 23 hospitals, 300 outpatient facilities, including locations in northeast Ohio; Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2025, there were 15.9 million outpatient encounters, 343,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 336,000 surgeries and procedures throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at x.com/CleClinicNews. News and resources are available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.
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