LipoScience Announces New Data Supporting High-Density Lipoprotein Particle (HDL-P) Number As Marker Of Cardiovascular Risk

RALEIGH, N.C., Sept. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- LipoScience, Inc., (NASDAQ: LPDX) a diagnostic company pioneering a new field of personalized nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) diagnostics to advance the quality of patient care in cardiovascular, metabolic and other diseases, today announced the publication of data supporting the measurement of high-density lipoprotein particle (HDL-P) number as a marker of cardiovascular risk in patients on cholesterol-lowering statin therapy. The JUPITER data analysis appeared September 3, 2013 in the online version of the journal Circulation in advance of the September 10, 2013 print issue.

In an analysis of data from the JUPITER (Justification for the Use of statins in Prevention: an Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin) study, researchers from Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health conclude that HDL-P may be a better marker of residual risk than chemically measured high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C, the so-called "good" cholesterol) or apolipoprotein A-1 (apoA-1, the major protein on HDL). The findings have potential implications for evaluating novel therapies targeting HDL, according to the investigators. The JUPITER data analysis was presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) meeting in Amsterdam, September 1, 2013.

"The high rate of residual cardiovascular events among individuals treated with statins has driven interest in therapies designed to reduce risk by increasing HDL-C. However, recent failures of drugs that raised HDL-C without reducing events suggest that HDL-C may not be the best clinical measure of HDL," said lead author Samia Mora, M.D., of Brigham and Women's Hospital at Harvard Medical School. "In the JUPITER trial, we observed a strong, inverse association between the number of HDL particles and cardiovascular risk in patients treated with the statin drug rosuvastatin. By contrast, although HDL-C levels were increased by rosuvastatin, HDL-C levels were not associated with cardiovascular risk in patients treated with the statin drug."

Dr. Mora and colleagues analyzed data from 10,886 JUPITER trial participants who had no evidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) at baseline. HDL-P and HDL size were measured by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and HDL-C and apoA-1 were chemically assayed before and after patients were randomly assigned to receive one year of treatment with either rosuvastatin (20 mg/day) or placebo. The primary outcome was a composite CVD endpoint, defined as first myocardial infarction (heart attack), stroke, hospitalization for unstable angina (chest pain), arterial revascularization (surgical restoration of blood flow), or cardiovascular death.

"The JUPITER data indicate that higher numbers of HDL particles, which carry HDL cholesterol through the bloodstream, are a more reliable indicator of lower CVD risk than elevated HDL cholesterol," commented James Otvos, Ph.D., chief scientific officer of LipoScience. "The results underscore the importance of using NMR spectroscopy to quantify HDL particles as part of CVD risk management." 

About LipoScience, Inc.
LipoScience, Inc. is pioneering a new field of personalized diagnostics based on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology. The company's first proprietary diagnostic test, the NMR LipoProfile^® test, measures the number of low-density lipoprotein particles (LDL-P) in a blood sample and provides physicians and their patients with actionable information to personalize management of risk for heart disease. To date, over 10 million NMR LipoProfile tests have been ordered. LipoScience's automated clinical analyzer, Vantera^®, has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It requires no previous knowledge of NMR technology to operate and has been designed to dramatically simplify complex technology through ease of use and walk-away automation. The Vantera Clinical Analyzer will be placed with national and regional clinical laboratories.

LipoScience is driving NMR diagnostics toward becoming a clinical standard of care by decentralizing its technology and expanding its menu of personalized diagnostic tests to address a broad range of cardiovascular, metabolic and other diseases. For further information on LipoScience, please visit www.liposcience.com and www.theparticletest.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements related to the Company's plans, objectives, expectations (financial and otherwise) or intentions. These forward-looking statements include statements about the Company's expectations for the future demand for its products and the factors that drive such demand. Actual results may differ significantly from those projected or suggested in any forward-looking statements.  Further information on potential factors and other risks that could affect the Company's business and operating results is included in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended July 31, 2013 and other filings the Company makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time.  These documents are available on the SEC Filings section of the Investor Relations page of the Company's website at http://investor.liposcience.com/. The statements made herein are based on information available to LipoScience as of the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

SOURCE LipoScience, Inc.