Conditions: Hypercholesterolemia
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 233
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
Primary Objective:

To demonstrate the reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) by a regimen of Alirocumab including a starting dose of 150 mg every 4 weeks (Q4W) as add-on to non-statin lipid modifying background therapy or as monotherapy in comparison with placebo in participants with primary hypercholesterolemia not treated with a statin.

Secondary Objective:

* To evaluate the effects on other lipid parameters of Alirocumab 150 mg Q4W versus placebo.
* To evaluate the safety and tolerability of Alirocumab 150 mg Q4W.

Alirocumab 75 mg Q2W was added as a calibrator arm.

Detailed description:
The core study duration was approximately 35 weeks per participant (screening: 3 weeks, double-blind treatment period: 24 weeks; follow-up: 8 weeks). Participants who successfully completed the treatment period had the possibility to participate in an optional open-label treatment period with Alirocumab 150 mg Q4W until second quarter 2017 or until the drug is commercially available in the country, whatever occurred first.

Arms:
arm 1: Period 1: Placebo (for Alirocumab) subcutaneous (SC) injection every 2 weeks (Q2W) added to stable non-statin lipid modifying therapy (LMT) or diet alone for 24 weeks.

Period 2: Alirocumab 150 mg SC injection every 4 weeks (Q4W) from Week 24 until second quarter 2017 or until the drug is commercially available in the country, whatever occurred first. Alirocumab dose could be either up-titrated to 150 mg Q2W from Week 36 or maintained according to the investigator judgement and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) values. Subsequent down titration to 150 mg Q4W was allowed. arm 2: Period 1: Alirocumab 75 mg SC injection Q2W added to stable non-statin LMT or diet alone for 24 weeks. Alirocumab dose up-titrated to 150 mg Q2W from Week 12 when targeted LDL-C levels at Week 8 were not achieved i.e. LDL-C ≥70 mg/dL (1.81 mmol/L) or ≥100 mg/dL (2.59 mmol/L) depending on cardiovascular risk or \<30% LDL-C reduction from baseline.

Period 2: Alirocumab 150 mg SC injection Q4W from Week 24 until second quarter 2017 or until the drug is commercially available in the country, whatever occurred first. Alirocumab dose could be either up-titrated to 150 mg Q2W from Week 36 or maintained according to the investigator judgement and LDL-C values. Subsequent down titration to 150 mg Q4W was allowed. arm 3: Period 1: Alirocumab 150 mg SC injection Q4W alternating with placebo (for alirocumab) Q4W added to stable non-statin LMT or diet alone for 24 weeks. Alirocumab dose up-titrated to 150 mg Q2W from Week 12 when targeted LDL-C levels at Week 8 were not achieved i.e. LDL-C ≥70 mg/dL (1.81 mmol/L) or ≥100 mg/dL (2.59 mmol/L) depending on cardiovascular risk or \<30% LDL-C reduction from baseline.

Period 2: Alirocumab 150 mg SC injection Q4W from Week 24 until second quarter 2017 or until the drug is commercially available in the country, whatever occurred first. Alirocumab dose could be either up-titrated to 150 mg Q2W from Week 36 or maintained according to the investigator judgement and LDL-C values. Subsequent down titration to 150 mg Q4W was allowed.

Interventions: intervention 1: Alirocumab intervention 2: Placebo (for Alirocumab) intervention 3: Non-statin LMT intervention 4: Diet Alone
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Solution for injection in the abdomen, thigh, or outer area of the upper arm by self-injection or by another designated person using auto-injector (also known as pre-filled pen). intervention 2: Solution for injection in the abdomen, thigh, or outer area of the upper arm by self-injection or by another designated person using auto-injector (also known as pre-filled pen). intervention 3: Ezetimibe or Fenofibrate at stable dose as background therapy. intervention 4: Stable cholesterol-lowering diet as background therapy.

Protocol document: