Antiinflammatory Therapy Reduced CVD Risk

A randomized, double-blind trial of canakinumab targeting interleukin-1β innate immunity pathway revealed a significantly lower rate of recurrent cardiovascular events in patients of myocardial infarction (MI). The trial included 10,061 patients with previous MI and a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein （hsCRP） level of 2 mg or more per liter. Canakinumab (at 50 mg, 150 mg, and 300 mg, administered subcutaneously every 3 months) reduced hsCRP levels but not lipid levels from baseline. At a median follow-up of 3.7 years, the incidence rate for the primary end point (including nonfatal MI, nonfatal stroke, or cardiovascular death) was 4.50 events per 100 person-years in the placebo group, 4.11, 3.86, and 3.90 events per 100 person-years in the 50, 150 and 300-mg group, respectively. Canakinumab was associated with a higher incidence of fatal infection than was placebo. There was a reduction in lung cancer incidence and mortality but not all-cause mortality. Source: http://www.nejm.org/; http://www.thelancet.com/