The active substance of Lojuxta is lomitapide, other lipid modifying agents, plain (ATC code: C10AX12) and is a selective inhibitor of microsomal transfer protein (MTP), an intracellular lipid-transfer protein responsible for binding and shuttling lipids between membranes. MTP plays a key role in the assembly of apo B containing lipoproteins in the liver and intestines. Inhibition of MTP reduces lipoprotein secretion and circulating concentrations of lipoprotein-borne lipids including cholesterol and triglycerides.
The benefits with Lojuxta are its ability to consistently reduce LDL-cholesterol levels by approximately 40% in HoFH patients. The most common side effects are gastrointestinal and hepatic adverse events, is some cases leading to treatment discontinuation; weight loss has also been observed.
A pharmacovigilance plan for Lojuxta will be implemented as part of the marketing authorisation.
The approved indication is:
“Lojuxta is indicated as an adjunct to a low-fat diet and other lipid-lowering medicinal products with or without low density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis in adult patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (HoFH).