Praluent (alirocumab), an anti-cholesterol drug being developed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and France-based Sanofi has succeeded in the Odyssey Outcomes trial by decreasing the risk of death and heart attack in high-risk patients, it was reported yesterday.

The Odyssey Outcomes trial has met its primary endpoint and was held in around 19,000 patients who had a recent acute coronary syndrome event, such as a heart attack. Praluent was indicated to have decreased the overall risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) by 15%, which is the primary endpoint of the trial. High-risk patients who were subjected to Praluent injection in combination with maximally-tolerated statins, had significantly fewer MACE compared to patients treated on only maximally-tolerated statins.

The trial assessed the effect of Praluent on the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients who had suffered an acute coronary syndrome event 1-12 months before enrolling in the study, and who were already subjected to maximally-tolerated statins. Patients were randomised equally to be treated either by Praluent injection or a placebo, with the treatment period lasting an average of 2.8 years.

Praluent is yet to be approved by any regulatory agency, when it comes to its use in reducing the risk of MACE.