Bempedoic Acid (Nexletol) for the Treatment of Hyperlipidemia and Familial Hypercholesterolemia

Lawrence, Elizabeth MD, FAAFP
Johns, Tracy PharmD, MS

University of South Florida/Morton Plant Mease Family Medicine Residency, Clearwater, Florida

Address correspondence to Elizabeth Lawrence, MD, FAAFP, at [email protected]. Reprints are not available from the authors.

Author disclosure: No relevant financial affiliations.

American Family Physician 103(6):p 377-378, March 15, 2021.

Bempedoic acid (Nexletol) is labeled as an adjunct to diet plus a maximally tolerated dosage of statin for the treatment of familial hypercholesterolemia or atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD)in patients requiring additional reduction of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Bempedoic acid lowers LDL cholesterol by inhibiting ATP citrate lyase. This mechanism differs from statins, which inhibit the HMG-CoA reductase enzyme.