Future of angiopoietin-like protein 3 inhibitors as a therapeutic agent

Triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRLs) and LDL remain major drivers of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and angiopoietin-like protein 3 (ANGPTL3) has emerged as a promising target to lower both triglycerides and LDL cholesterol (LDL-C). This review provides an overview on ANGPTL3 inhibition, including genetic insights and clinical evidence, and examines patient groups in which therapies may be particularly well suited to reduce residual cardiovascular risk.

Genetic studies have shown that carriers of ANGPTL3 loss-of-function variants exhibit lower levels of triglycerides and LDL-C, and a reduced cardiovascular risk. Evinacumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting ANGPTL3, lowers LDL-C by approximately 50% in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH), in whom traditional lipid-lowering therapies are largely ineffective. In patients with mixed dyslipidemia, small interfering RNAs (e.g. zodasiran and solbinsiran) and antisense oligonucleotides (e.g. vupanorsen) achieve approximately 60% triglyceride and 20% LDL-C lowering, with the small interfering RNAs having a generally favorable safety profile.

ANGPTL3 inhibition offers an LDL receptor-independent means to lower atherogenic particles spanning from TRLs to LDL, complementing traditional lipid-lowering therapies. Evinacumab is practice-changing in HoFH, and RNA agents may soon broaden applicability to patients with mixed dyslipidemia and residual cardiovascular risk, pending cardiovascular outcomes trials.