Lipoprotein(a) Foundation Expands Global Scientific Advisory Board

Advisory Board to Be Actively Involved in the
First-Ever Prospective Patient Registry to Study Lp(a) in the U.S. with
Recent Grant from NORD in Conjunction with FDA

SAN CARLOS, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#knowFH–The Lipoprotein(a) Foundation announced today that it has expanded its
global Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) to 27 members. The Advisory
Board, comprised of the world’s leading experts on Lipoprotein(a), a
highly prevalent, independent, genetic risk factor for early
cardiovascular disease, provides support to the Foundation’s mission of
saving lives by increasing awareness, advocating for routine testing,
and supporting research that will lead to a specific treatment for
elevated Lipoprotein(a).

The Lipoprotein(a) Foundation Scientific Advisory Board includes the
following third party scientists, lipidologists, cardiologists and
healthcare professionals:

• Benoit Arsenault, Ph.D., Universite Laval
• Christie M. Ballantyne, M.D., Baylor College of Medicine
• W. Virgil Brown, M.D., Emory University
• John Chapman, Ph.D., DSc, Pitie-Salpetriere Hospital
• Robert Clarke, M.D., Oxford University
• Tom Dayspring, M.D., True Health Diagnostics
• Keith Ferdinand, M.D., Tulane University,
• Steve Foley, M.D., Comprehensive Women’s Care
• Henry Ginsberg, M.D., Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons
• Jemma Hopewell, Ph.D., University of Oxford
• Terry Jacobson, M.D., Emory University
• Marlys Koschinsky, Ph.D., Robarts Research Institute, Western
  University
• Florian Kronenberg, M.D., Medical University of Innsbruck
• Joe McConnell, Ph.D., Salveo Diagnostics
• Catherine J. McNeal, M.D., Ph.D., Baylor Scott & White Health
• Michele Meitus Snyder, M.D., Children’s National Medical Center
• Patrick M. Moriarty, M.D., University of Kansas Hospital
• Pamela Morris, M.D., Medical University of South Carolina
• Borge Nordestgaard, M.D., University of Copenhagen
• Alan Remaley, M.D., Ph.D., National Heart, Lung, Blood
• Raul Santos, M.D., Ph.D., University of Sao Paulo
• Suzanne Shugg, N.P., NJ Cardiology Associates
• Sam Tsimikas, M.D., University of California
• Marina Vernalis, D.O., Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
• Annabelle Santos Volgman, M.D., Rush College of Medicine
• Robert Wild, M.D., Ph.D., University of Oklahoma
• Joseph Witztum, M.D., University of California

In breaking news, the latest issue of The Lancet includes
a paper from Advisory Board member Børge G. Nordestgaard, MD, DMSc, of
the University of Copenhagen, titled “High lipoprotein(a) as a possible
cause of clinical familial hypercholesterolaemia: a prospective cohort
study.” The results suggest that high lipoprotein(a) concentrations and
corresponding LPA risk genotypes represent novel risk factors for
clinical familial hypercholesterolaemia. The authors conclude that all
individuals with familial hypercholesterolaemia should have their
lipoprotein(a) measured in order to identify those with the highest
concentrations, and as a result, the highest risk of myocardial
infarction.

The Foundation recently announced that it has received a grant from the
National Organization of Orphan Diseases (NORD) in conjunction with the
U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), to create the first prospective
patient registry to study Lp(a) in the United States by collecting Lp(a)
patient histories for research purposes. Members of the Advisory Board
will be actively involved in data collection and analysis for the
patient registry.

“The mission of the Lipoprotein(a) Foundation is to empower patients and
prevent cardiovascular events due to high Lipoprotein(a) through proper
testing and diagnosis. Patients and their families look to the
Foundation for resources to help them live with elevated Lp(a) and it is
critical that the information we provide is as timely and accurate as
possible. We are grateful for the extraordinary expertise and support
that we receive from our Scientific Advisory Board, without which we
could not achieve these goals. We look forward to collaborating with our
new members to continue raising awareness and working towards the
development of specific treatments for high Lipoprotein(a),” said Sandra
Revill Tremulis, founder of Lipoprotein(a) Foundation.

Tremulis will present at the International Lp(a) Satellite Meeting, May
27-28, 2016 in Innsbruck, Austria, as part of a Symposium titled, “A
patient centered approach targeting Lp(a) in lipid management.” Tremulis
has also been invited to participate in panel discussion on Clinical
Aspects of Lp(a) moderated by meeting chair Florian Kronenberg, MD. The
International Lp(a) Symposium is designed to bring together the leading
experts in Lp(a) research to share the most recent results and promote
knowledge of this important risk factor for atherosclerosis.

A number of Advisory Board members will also be presenting at the
upcoming National Lipid Association 2016 Scientific Sessions (NLA), May
19-22 in New Orleans. Highlights include: “Lipoprotein(a) as a Cause of
Cardiovascular Disease,” by Dr. Nordestgaard, and “Drugs in Development
to Treat Lp(a): Risk Reduction vs. Lowering a number – What can we
expect?” by Christie M. Ballantyne, MD, FNLA, of the Baylor College of
Medicine.

A study recently published in the Journal of the American College of
Cardiology (JACC) shows that the current cholesterol
guidelines miss 8% of people who have a cardiovascular event whose only
risk factor is high Lp(a).¹ One in 5 people globally have
inherited high Lp(a) – approximately 63 million in the U.S.⁴
and Lp(a) is a highly prevalent, independent, genetic risk factor for
coronary heart disease and aortic stenosis.² Lp(a)
concentrations can be measured by a simple blood test, but it is not
included in most standard lipid panel tests that check cholesterol
levels. ¹ The Lipoprotein(a) Foundation recently issued an Infographic
to raise awareness that a simple blood test could be the first step in
preventing up to 120,000 cardiovascular events every year.

About The Lipoprotein(a) Foundation

Because approximately 63 million Americans have high Lipoprotein(a) and
are at risk of premature cardiovascular disease, the vision for the
foundation is: To live in a world where high Lipoprotein(a) is
routinely diagnosed, treated and family screened. The mission is
to prevent cardiovascular events due to high Lipoprotein(a) by
diagnosing this inherited risk for cardiovascular disease; educating and
empowering patients and saving lives. Our goal is to save lives by
increasing awareness, advocating for routine testing, and supporting
research that will lead to a specific treatment for elevated
Lipoprotein(a). Based in San Carlos, California, the Lipoprotein(a)
Foundation is a patient-founded, 501(c)3 non-profit organization. For
more information go to: www.lipoproteinafoundation.org

1 Mortensen M, MD, PHD, Afzal S, MD, PHD et al. Primary Prevention with
Statins. ACC/AHA Risk-Based Approach Versus Trial-Based Approaches to
Guide Statin Therapy. Guide Statin Therapy. JACC.

2 CARDIoGRAMplusC4D Consortium, Deloukas P et al. Large-scale
association analysis identifies new risk loci for coronary artery
disease. Nat Genet. 2013 Jan;45(1):25-33

3 Thanassoulis G. et al. Genetic Associations with Valvular
calcification and aortic stenosis. N Engl J Med. 2013 Feb
7;368(6):503-12. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1109034

4 Nordestgaard F., Chapman J, et al. Lipoprotein(a) as a cardiovascular
risk factor current status. European Heart J. 2010;31,2844-2853

5 CDC reference: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6321a3.htm

Contacts

Lipoprotein(a) Foundation
Chris K. Joseph, 510-435-4031
cjoseph@lipoproteinafoundation.org