The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended icosapent ethyl also called Vazkepa manufactured by Amarin for adults who have cardiovascular disease with controlled LDL-C levels taking a statin.
It's final draft guidance is expected to be available on the July 20.
Nearly half a million people are expected to benefit from the first licensed treatment shown to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes in people with
controlled low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C - sometimes called "bad" cholesterol) who are taking a statin and who have raised levels of triglycerides.
NICE said: "Clinical trial evidence suggests that for people with raised triglycerides who have LDL-C levels controlled by statins, and who have cardiovascular disease, icosapent ethyl reduces their risk of cardiovascular events by over a quarter compared with placebo.
Helen Knight, interim director of medicines evaluation at NICE, said: "Icosapent ethyl is the first licensed treatment of its kind for people who are at risk of heart attacks and strokes despite well controlled LDL cholesterol because they have raised blood fats. And although lifestyle changes, including diet and exercise, can help to reduce their risk, these may not work for everyone.
In partnership with the pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim, Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust (LTHT) has recently established an innovative
cardiometabolic clinic.
The clinic focuses on reducing cardiovascular risk in people with diabetes who have recently been discharged from LTHT following a heart attack. It is delivered jointly by the cardiology department at Leeds General Infirmary and the diabetes services at the Trust.
This is a patient-centred approach to reducing that risk, with pharmacist-delivered clinics scheduled for six to eight weeks after the heart attack.
Stephen Wheatcroft, Professor of Cardiometabolic Medicine and Consultant Cardiologist at LTHT, said: "This is an exciting and innovative development, one of the
first in the country. Previously, Type 2 diabetic patients presenting with heart issues would have been treated by two separate specialty teams. This is the first time there has been a specific clinic combining the cardiac and diabetes team working together.
"We aim to reduce the risk for patients, with earlier multidisciplinary hospital care, to help discharged patients achieve better diabetes control, through improved medication support and optimisation, reducing the need for further treatment and future hospital stays. Overall, it will mean a better patient experience, with improved monitoring and information about treatment options, along with a reduction in waiting times for review in a specialist clinic."
Cardiac surgery offers several benefits, especially for individuals with severe heart conditions that cannot be managed effectively with medication or lifestyle changes. Here are some key benefits:
1. Improved Blood Flow:
2. Enhanced Quality of Life
3. Better Heart Function
4. Reduced Risk of Heart Attack
5. Psychological Benefits
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved a new indication of semaglutide (Wegovy), authorising its use to reduce the risk
of serious heart problems and strokes in adults who are obese or overweight.
Semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, was previously approved for use in the treatment of obesity and weight management, to be used alongside diet, physical
activity and behavioural support.
The latest approval establishes it as the first weight loss drug to be prescribed to prevent cardiovascular events, such as cardiovascular death, non-fatal heart
attack and non-fatal stroke, in people with established cardiovascular disease and a Body Mass Index (BMI) higher or equal to 27 kg/m2.
Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Wegovy, received this authorisation on 23 July following compelling evidence from a recent post-approval clinical study involving
over 17,600 participants.
The study demonstrated that Wegovy, administered at a dose of 2.4 mg once weekly via subcutaneous injection for up to five years, significantly lowers the incidence
of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) by 20 per cent compared to a placebo.
Esperion Therapeutics' non-statin therapy "bempedoic acid" has shown modest results in reducing the risk of major cardiovascular events in statin-intolerant
patients in the cholesterol lowering via bempedoic acid, an ACL-inhibiting regimen (CLEAR Outcomes) trial, revealed GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
As a result, there is substantial room for improvement in this space as a potential approval is expected in Australia in near-term based on these results, said
GlobalData.
According to GlobalData's Pharmaceutical Intelligence Center, the total number of diagnosed prevalent cases of dyslipidemia in Australia is expected to increase at
a compound annual growth rate of approximately 1.2% from 5.2 million in 2022 to 5.4 million in 2025.
Neha Myneni, Pharma Analyst at GlobalData, comments: "Bempedoic acid joins several statin alternatives that have shown the potential to reduce cardiac illnesses.
However, with not much significant improvement in the outcomes, there exists a clear room for improvement for non-statin therapies in this space."
Bempedoic acid is the sixth class of cholesterol-lowering drugs (other than cholesteryl-ester transfer protein isoform (CETPi) inhibitors), that has demonstrated the
potential to reduce heart attacks and strokes. Other class of therapies with similar potential currently marketed in Australia include statins, bile acid resins,
niacin, ezetimibe, and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors (alirocumab, evolocumab, and inclisiran).
Whether you believe it or not, following a vegan diet can be quite eventful for your body. For instance, it can help you lose weight, get a better body
structure, and so on.
However, is that all? You can get that by following a thorough exercise plan as well, no?
Well, yes, you can. Nevertheless, following a vegan diet plan can help you out in more than a single manner. Please keep reading this article till the end to know
more about it.
WHAT IS A VEGAN DIET?
As a vegan, you can eat dairy food, including cheese and milk, without any boundaries. If you want to get a little bit of protein, you may consume eggs (boiled or
in a gravy) too. Also, yes, plants are going to be an integral part of your diet plan too.
However, you won't be able to eat meat anymore. So, no chicken, mutton, or beef for the rest of your life. Instead, you will need to focus solely on plant-based
protein.
BENEFITS OF FOLLOWING A VEGAN DIET
A plant-based diet structure can be highly beneficial for your health. For example, it can -
LOWER YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE.
Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, can increase your risk of a heart attack. It's also known to be a close counterpart of type-2 diabetes too.
Fortunately, though, the diet you follow can make quite a massive difference here. For example, following a vegan diet can help you reduce the amount of oily food
you're taking on a daily basis.
This, in turn, can decrease the amount of cholesterol in your blood and make it easier for you to lose weight. And, the less obese you are, the lower your blood
pressure will be.