Cited by 530Lipid metabolism and disordersLipoproteins and Cardiovascular HealthDiabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins

Antisense Inhibition of Apolipoprotein C-III in Patients with Hypertriglyceridemia

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Gaudet, Daniel, Alexander, Veronica J., Baker, Brenda F., Brisson, Diane, Tremblay, Karine, Singleton, Walter, Geary, Richard S., Hughes, Steven G. +6 more·2015·New England Journal of Medicine

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Apolipoprotein C-III (APOC3) is a key regulator of plasma triglyceride levels. Elevated triglyceride levels are associated with a risk of adverse cardiovascular events and pancreatitis. ISIS 304801 is a second-generation antisense inhibitor of APOC3 synthesis. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging, phase 2 study to evaluate ISIS 304801 in untreated patients with fasting triglyceride levels between 350 mg per deciliter (4.0 mmol per liter) and 2000 mg per deciliter (22.6 mmol per liter) (ISIS 304801 monotherapy cohort), as well as in patients receiving stable fibrate therapy who had fasting triglyceride levels between 225 mg per deciliter (2.5 mmol per liter) and 2000 mg per deciliter (ISIS 304801-fibrate cohort). Eligible patients were randomly assigned to receive either ISIS 304801, at doses ranging from 100 to 300 mg, or placebo, once weekly for 13 weeks. The primary outcome was the percentage change in APOC3 level from baseline. RESULTS: A total of 57 patients were treated in the ISIS 304801 monotherapy cohort (41 received active agent, and 16 received placebo), and 28 patients were treated in the ISIS 304801-fibrate cohort (20 received active agent, and 8 received placebo). The mean (±SD) baseline triglyceride levels in the two cohorts were 581±291 mg per deciliter (6.6±3.3 mmol per liter) and 376±188 mg per deciliter (4.2±2.1 mmol per liter), respectively. Treatment with ISIS 304801 resulted in dose-dependent and prolonged decreases in plasma APOC3 levels when the drug was administered as a single agent (decreases of 40.0±32.0% in the 100-mg group, 63.8±22.3% in the 200-mg group, and 79.6±9.3% in the 300-mg group, vs. an increase of 4.2±41.7% in the placebo group) and when it was administered as an add-on to fibrates (decreases of 60.2±12.5% in the 200-mg group and 70.9±13.0% in the 300-mg group, vs. a decrease of 2.2±25.2% in the placebo group). Concordant reductions of 31.3 to 70.9% were observed in triglyceride levels. No safety concerns were identified in this short-term study. CONCLUSIONS: We found that treatment with ISIS 304801 was associated with significant lowering of triglyceride levels, among patients with a broad range of baseline levels, through selective antisense inhibition of APOC3 synthesis. (Funded by Isis Pharmaceuticals; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01529424.).

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Crossref · 10.1056/nejmoa1400283

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  • In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind phase 2 trial of 57 patients with elevated triglycerides, volanesorsen reduced ApoC-III by up to −80% and triglycerides by −71%.

    “In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind phase 2 trial of 57 patients with elevated triglycerides, volanesorsen reduced ApoC-III by up to − 80% and triglycerides by − 71% [175].”

    From Established and Emerging Lipid-Lowering Drugs for Primary and Secondary Cardiovascular Prevention (2023) · cites this paper as [175]

    The Methods describe a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 study, and the Discussion reports mean reductions of 80% in APOC3 and 71% in triglycerides with ISIS 304801 monotherapy. The Results identify 57 patients in the monotherapy cohort, but another 28 in the fibrate cohort; 57 is not the total trial enrollment. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Volanesorsen is an antisense oligonucleotide that targets APOC3 mRNA and reduces plasma apolipoprotein C-III levels, chylomicronemia, and plasma triglyceride levels.

    “Volanesorsen is an antisense oligonucleotide that targets APOC3 messenger RNA (mRNA) and reduces plasma apolipoprotein C-III levels, as well as the degree of chylomicronemia and plasma triglyceride levels.”

    From Olezarsen, Acute Pancreatitis, and Familial Chylomicronemia Syndrome (2024) · cites this paper as [24]

    The RESULTS passage says ISIS 304801 targets APOC3 mRNA, and the Discussion reports reductions in plasma APOC3 and triglycerides. The ISIS 304801 Monotherapy Cohort also reports reduced apoB-48, a marker of chylomicron particle number. Our copy does not identify ISIS 304801 as volanesorsen, so it does not establish that the named drug produced these effects. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Volanesorsen is a second-generation antisense oligonucleotide developed to inhibit apoCIII.

    “Volanesorsen (previously known as ISIS-APOC-III RX ) is a second-generation ASO developed to inhibit apoCIII”

    From The Forgotten Lipids: Triglycerides, Remnant Cholesterol, and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk (2019) · cites this paper as [170]

    The RESULTS passage describes ISIS 304801 as a second-generation antisense oligonucleotide designed to reduce APOC3 mRNA, supporting the drug class and intended target. Our copy does not identify ISIS 304801 as volanesorsen or ISIS-APOC-III RX, so it does not establish the name equivalence in the citing sentence. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Volanesorsen lowers TG by up to 77% in patients with Familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS).

    “Volanesorsen, a second-generation antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) targeting hepatic APOC3 mRNA, has shown the capacity to lower TG by up to 77% in patients with Familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS) [114]”

    From Targeting triglycerides for cardiovascular risk reduction (2026) · cites this paper as [114]

    The RESULTS section reports that ISIS 304801 lowered triglycerides in a small number of patients with familial chylomicronemia syndrome, but gives no 77% figure for them. The ISIS 304801 Monotherapy Cohort reports a 70.9% mean reduction at the highest dose in this paper’s hypertriglyceridemia patients, not a 77% reduction in FCS patients. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Several miRNAs and antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are currently under investigation in clinical trials for various diseases.

    “Several miRNAs and antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are currently under investigation in clinical trials for various diseases (Kanasty et al., 2013;van Rooij and Kauppinen, 2014;Gaudet et al., 2015).”

    From microRNA-33 Regulates ApoE Lipidation and Amyloid-β Metabolism in the Brain (2015) · cites this paper as Gaudet et al., 2015

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1 of the 51 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. [3]3. Brunzell JD, Schrott HG. The interac- tion of familial and secondary causes of hypertriglyceridemia: role in pancreatitis. Trans Assoc Am Physicians 1973; 86: 245-54.
  2. [6]6. Nordestgaard BG, Varbo A. Triglycer- ides and cardiovascular disease. Lancet 2014; 384: 626-35.
  3. [41]41. Le N-A, Brown WV. Triglyceride-rich lipoproteins. In: Grundy SM, ed. Atlas of atherosclerosis and metabolic syndrome. 5th ed. New York: Springer, 2011: 59-92.

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Authors
Gaudet, D., Alexander, V. J., Baker, B. F., Brisson, D., Tremblay, K., Singleton, W., Geary, R. S., Hughes, S. G., Viney, N. J., Graham, M. J., Crooke, R. M., Witztum, J. L., Brunzell, J. D., & Kastelein, J. J. P.
Affiliations
  • University of Washington (US)
  • Ionis Pharmaceuticals (United States) (US)
  • Université de Montréal (CA)
  • University of California San Diego (US)
  • Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam (NL)
Venue
New England Journal of Medicine
Published
2015-07-30
Volume
373
Issue
5
Pages
438-447
ISSN
  • 0028-4793 (ISSN-L)
  • 1533-4406
OpenAlex
W2315899065
Cited by
528
References
51
Citations by year
2026: 23 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 32 · 2022: 51 · 2021: 46 · 2020: 63 · 2019: 61 · 2018: 68 · 2017: 58 · 2016: 58 · 2015: 13
FWCI
47.75
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • New England Journal of Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Pure Amsterdam UMC (acceptedVersion, other-oa)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Lipid metabolism and disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Lipoproteins and Cardiovascular Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins
Keywords
apolipoprotein C-III, antisense oligonucleotides, hypertriglyceridemia, triglyceride lowering, fibrate therapy, dose-ranging, cardiovascular risk, pancreatitis risk, triglyceride metabolism, monotherapy
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Double-Blind Method, Drug Therapy, Combination, Female, Humans, Cholesterol, HDL, Male, Middle Aged, Oligonucleotides, Triglycerides, Hypertriglyceridemia, Apolipoprotein C-III, Fibric Acids

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