15 September 2015 - Lomitapide (trade name: Lojuxta) has been available since July 2013 as additional treatment for adults with homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia in whom diet and other drugs do not sufficiently lower cholesterol levels. The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) examined in a dossier assessment whether this drug offers an added benefit over the appropriate comparator therapy. No such added benefit could be derived, however, because the dossier contained no suitable data.

Homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia is a very rare congenital metabolic disorder, in which the blood contains too much low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Standard treatment options include diet together with lipid-lowering drugs or – if this is no longer sufficient – LDL apheresis, a procedure similar to dialysis, in combination with drug treatment.

The Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) distinguished between several patient groups for this assessment. This differentiation was based on whether drug and dietary options have been exhausted and whether LDL apheresis is already being used.

For more details, go to: https://www.iqwig.de/en/press/press-releases/press-releases/lomitapide-in-hypercholesterolaemia-no-hint-of-added-benefit.6899.html