Amgen's Repatha a 'game changer' for high-risk patients

Results from the largest single cardiovascular outcomes trial showed that adding Repatha (evolocumab) to optimized statin therapy resulted in a statistically significant 20% reduction in the risk of hard major adverse cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke.

However, shares of the drug’s maker, US biotech major Amgen (Nasdaq: AMGN), closed down 6.4% at $168.61 following the presentation at the American College of Cardiology (ACC.17) Scientific Sessions on Friday.

The 27,564-patient Repatha (evolocumab) cardiovascular outcomes study, FOURIER, established for the first time that maximally reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels with Repatha, beyond what is possible with the current best therapy alone, leads to a further reduction in major cardiovascular events, including heart attacks, strokes and coronary revascularizations.