The Effect of Bromodomain and Extra-Terminal Inhibitor Apabetalone on Attenuated Coronary Atherosclerotic Plaque: Insights from the ASSURE Trial

Background: Apabetalone is a selective bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) inhibitor which modulates lipid and inflammatory pathways implicated in atherosclerosis. The impact of apabetalone on attenuated coronary atherosclerotic plaque (AP), a measure of vulnerability, is unknown. Methods: The ApoA-1 Synthesis Stimulation and intravascular Ultrasound for coronary atheroma Regression Evaluation (ASSURE; NCT01067820) study employed serial intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) measures of coronary atheroma in 281 patients treated with apabetalone or placebo for 26 weeks. AP was measured at baseline and follow-up. Factors associated with changes in AP were investigated. Results: AP was observed in 31 patients (11%) [27 (13.0%) in the apabetalone group and four (5.5%) in the placebo group]. The apabetalone group demonstrated reductions in AP length by − 1 mm [interquartile range (IQR) − 4, 1] (p = 0.03), AP arc by − 37.0° (IQR − 59.2, 8.2) (p = 0.003) and the AP index by − 34.6 mm° (IQR − 52.6, 10.1) (p = 0.003) from baseline. The change in AP index correlated with on-treatment concentration of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles (r = − 0.52, p = 0.006), but not HDL cholesterol (r = − 0.11, p = 0.60) or apolipoprotein A-1 (r = − 0.16, p = 0.43). Multivariable analysis revealed that on-treatment concentrations of HDL particles (p = 0.03) and very low-density lipoprotein particles (p = 0.01) were independently associated with changes in AP index. Conclusions: Apabetalone favorably modulated ultrasonic measures of plaque vulnerability in the population studied, which may relate to an increase in HDL particle concentrations. The clinical implications are currently being investigated in the phase 3 major adverse cardiac event outcomes trial BETonMACE.