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About Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease and Elevated Cholesterol Level

What is Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD)?

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is an umbrella term for the clinical manifestations of fatty plaque buildup within the walls of arteries. It refers to diseases including coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular diseases, peripheral artery disease and more. Plaque buildup causes narrowed or blocked blood vessels, which restricts or completely obstructs blood flow, leading to cardiovascular events like a heart attack or stroke.

Despite advances in treatment, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is still the leading cause of death globally, resulting in over 17 million deaths annually. Elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is a very important risk factor for the development of CVD.

Patients with documented ASCVD are at very high risk to experience future cardiovascular events, and many with ASCVD are unable to reduce the high levels of LDL-C cholesterol sufficiently to reach a desired (target) level. The study drug obicetrapib may offer a potentially effective option for these people to reach this desired LDL-C level.