Repatha

Repatha is a medicine for lowering levels of fats in the blood.

It is used to reduce blood fat levels in patients with primary hypercholesterolaemia (high blood cholesterol levels caused by a genetic abnormality), homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (a severe form of high blood cholesterol inherited from both parents) and mixed dyslipidaemia (abnormal levels of different fats, including cholesterol).

It is also used to reduce the risk of heart problems in patients with atherosclerosis (thickened arterial walls) who have had a heart attack, stroke or other problems of the circulatory system (atherosclerotic heart disease).

Repatha is used in combination with a statin or a statin and other fat-lowering medicines. Repatha can also be used without a statin in patients who cannot take statins. Some patients are required to be on a low fat diet.

Repatha contains the active substance evolocumab.

Before starting treatment with Repatha, other causes of excess cholesterol and abnormal fat levels in blood should be ruled out.

Repatha is available as a solution for injection in pre-filled syringes (140 mg), pre-filled pens (140 mg) and cartridges (420 mg). The cartridges are to be used together with an automated dosing device called a mini-doser. The injection is given under the skin of the abdomen, thigh or upper arm.

The recommended dose for adults with primary hypercholesterolaemia, mixed dyslipidaemia and atherosclerotic heart disease is either 140 mg every two weeks or 420 mg (the contents of three pre-filled syringes or one cartridge) once a month.

For adults and children aged 12 years and above with homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia, the initial recommended dose is 420 mg once a month. If the desired response is not achieved after 12 weeks of treatment, the dose can be increased up to 420 mg every two weeks.

The medicine can only be obtained with a prescription. Patients can self-administer the medicine once they have been properly trained.

For more information about using Repatha, see the package leaflet or contact your doctor or pharmacist.

The active substance in Repatha, evolocumab, is a monoclonal antibody (a type of protein) that has been designed to recognise and attach to an enzyme called ‘PCSK9’. This enzyme attaches to cholesterol receptors on the surface of liver cells and causes these receptors to be absorbed and broken down inside the cells. By attaching and blocking PCSK9, Repatha prevents the receptors from being broken down and therefore increases their numbers on the cell surface, where they can attach to LDL-cholesterol and remove it from the bloodstream. This helps to reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood. Repatha also helps to reduce other fatty substances from blood in patients with mixed dyslipidaemia.

Hypercholesterolaemia and mixed dyslipidaemia

In primary hypercholesterolaemia and mixed dyslipidaemia, Repatha was studied in 9 main studies involving around 7,400 adult patients, including patients with heterozygous familial disease. Some of the studies looked at Repatha taken on its own, while others studied Repatha in combination with other fat-lowering medicines, including patients on the maximum recommended doses of statins. Some studies compared Repatha with placebo (a dummy treatment) and others to another medicine (ezetimibe). These studies found a substantial reduction in blood levels of LDL-cholesterol (around 60 to 70% more than placebo, and of around 40% more than ezetimibe) from week 10 to week 12 of the study and at the end of 12 weeks.

In homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia, Repatha was studied in 2 main studies involving 155 patients, which included 14 children older than 12 years. One of these studies showed that Repatha given together with other fat-lowering medicines reduced fat levels in the blood after 12 weeks of treatment (around 15 to 32% more than placebo given on top of other fat-lowering medicines). A second study showed that long-term use of Repatha achieved a sustained reduction of fat levels in the blood in these patients during 28 weeks of treatment.

Atherosclerotic heart disease

Repatha was studied in more than 27,500 patients with a history of established cardiovascular disease. They received either Repatha or placebo, both with an optimal fat-lowering therapy, for over 2 years on average. In the Repatha group, less than 10% (1,344 of 13,784 patients) had a cardiovascular event (meaning death, heart attack, stroke, hospitalization or surgery due to problems with the blood flow to the heart) during the study compared with just over 11% in the placebo group (1,563 of 13,780 patients).

The most common side effects with Repatha (which may affect up to 1 in 100 people) are nasopharyngitis (inflammation of the nose and throat), upper respiratory tract infection (nose and throat infection), back pain, joint pain, flu and reactions at the site of injection. For the full list of side effects and restrictions with Repatha, see the package leaflet.

The European Medicines Agency decided that Repatha’s benefits are greater than its risks and it can be authorised for use in the EU. The Agency noted that across all studies in patients with primary hypercholesterolaemia and mixed dyslipidaemia, Repatha showed an important reduction in LDL-cholesterol levels, which is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease. In patients with atherosclerotic heart disease, Repatha reduced the number of cardiovascular events, in particular heart attacks and strokes. The Agency also noted that for patients with homozygous familial disease there are limited treatment options, and these patients have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. In this population, including some children above 12 years, Repatha showed a consistent reduction in LDL-cholesterol levels beyond what can be achieved with existing fat-lowering medicines. With regard to safety, the Agency noted an acceptable safety profile and did not identify any substantial safety issue.

Recommendations and precautions to be followed by healthcare professionals and patients for the safe and effective use of Repatha have been included in the summary of product characteristics and the package leaflet.

As for all medicines, data on the use of Repatha are continuously monitored. Side effects reported with Repatha are carefully evaluated and any necessary action taken to protect patients.

Repatha received a marketing authorisation valid throughout the EU on 17 July 2015.