Amgen Aims to Cut US Cardiovascular Events by 50% by 2030

In an interview with Pharmaceutical Executive, Leandro Boer, MD, PhD, VP, US general medicines, Amgen, discussed the striking findings of the US arm of the VESALIUS-REAL study, presented at the recent American College of Cardiology (ACC) meeting. The observational study, which analyzed data from over 278,000 high-risk patients between 2016 and 2022, uncovered major deficiencies in lipid management following cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes. The conversation shed light on why these care gaps persist, particularly among patients over 50, and highlighted the urgent need to rethink prevention strategies, streamline treatment guidelines, and increase accountability across care transitions.

Pharmaceutical Executive: Are there specific programs, collaborations, or policy initiatives Amgen is advancing to improve LDL-C awareness and testing in high-risk populations?

Leandro Boer: Amgen is deeply committed to improving cardiovascular care, and we’ve set an ambitious goal: to reduce cardiovascular (CV) events by 50% in high-risk patients across the U.S. by 2030. It's a bold objective—a moonshot—but we believe it’s achievable through strong partnerships and a multi-faceted approach.

As I’ve mentioned before, there are several interconnected reasons why certain populations remain at high risk for myocardial infarction. These range from policy challenges to clinical practice gaps, lack of patient-provider communication, and insufficient guideline clarity. Because of this, there’s no single intervention that will solve the issue. We need a collective effort across the ecosystem.

One major focus is raising awareness that elevated LDL-C is one of the most modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. It accounts for roughly 49% of the population-attributable risk. To that end, we’re collaborating with several organizations to expand access to LDL-C testing and education. These partners include the Family Heart Foundation, the Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC), and the Black Heart Association. Additionally, we’re working with CVS MinuteClinics to offer free LDL-C testing—either in person or through at-home test kits—so patients can know their numbers and take action.

We’re also focusing on lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), an important and underrecognized biomarker of CV risk. While research is still underway—some of it involving Amgen—we’re committed to understanding its implications and potential as a therapeutic target.

Beyond testing, we’re driving system-wide change through initiatives like the LDL-C Action Summit, where we bring together key stakeholders—medical societies like the American College of Cardiology, the Association of Black Cardiologists, and others—to develop aligned, sustainable solutions.

Finally, Amgen is part of the LATTE Consortium, which focuses on implementation science. Currently, it can take up to 17 years for clinical evidence to be fully integrated into practice. Our goal is to dramatically shorten that timeline by working with partners across the country to identify where we can deploy proven strategies more quickly and effectively.

These are just a few of the ways we're working to reach our 2030 goal—and we know we can't do it alone.

Full Interview Summary: The VESALIUS-REAL study revealed alarming gaps in LDL-C testing and treatment among high-risk U.S. patients. Notably, 70% of patients who experienced a myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke did not begin lipid-lowering therapy afterward, and 88% failed to intensify treatment within a year. Even more concerning, 50% of these patients never had a follow-up LDL-C test, and of those tested, 82% did not achieve guideline-recommended goals. Despite the availability of proven therapies like statins, ezetimibe, and PCSK9 inhibitors, usage remains low—with only 9.8% of patients on high-intensity statins—suggesting the United States remains stuck in outdated treatment patterns.

For patients over 50 without a prior cardiovascular event, several factors contribute to under-treatment. These include being in the "pre-Medicare gap" with limited insurance, poor risk perception of cardiovascular disease compared to cancer, over-reliance on lifestyle interventions, limited time with primary care providers (PCPs), and overly complex treatment guidelines. Together, these barriers prevent effective prevention and intervention.

Findings from VESALIUS-REAL may shape future guidelines by emphasizing treatment urgency, simplifying decision-making, and streamlining guidelines—particularly for primary care. Collaborative efforts, such as Amgen’s LDL-C Action Summit and partnerships with the National Lipid Association, aim to raise awareness, improve communication, and promote treatment adherence.

Amgen is pursuing a bold ambition to cut the number of heart attacks and strokes in the US in half by 2030. The company is advancing this goal through initiatives such as free LDL-C testing in collaboration with CVS MinuteClinics, community partnerships with organizations like the Association of Black Cardiologists and the Family Heart Foundation, and the LATTICE Consortium—focused on implementation science to reduce the time from discovery to practice. These collective efforts aim to close existing care gaps and ensure more patients achieve life-saving LDL-C targets.