Composite outcome not best way of assessing effects of statins
Dr. Stan extrapolated on his criticism of the trial.
“The study has interesting results but fails to show that any particular eye feature is benefited by the combination therapy, showing only the composite outcome to be improved,” he told this news organization.
“Unfortunately, that is hard to extrapolate to patient care, where one or another of Graves’ orbitopathy features are present and are the intended target of therapy,” he said.
Dr. Stan added that IV glucocorticoids are meanwhile also changing the landscape of treatment of thyroid eye disease.
“This ... current plan is to recommend a more individualized approach, depending on what is the main problem for that thyroid eye disease case,” he explained.
Dr. Marino noted that the authors are planning a double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 clinical trial of the statin/glucocorticoid combination to include patients regardless of their cholesterol levels.
The study received funding from Associazione Allievi Endocrinologia Pisana. The authors have reported no relevant financial relationships. Dr. Stan is on the advisory board for Horizon Pharma/Immunovant and provides general consulting for VasaraGen/Septerna and ValenzaBio/Medicxi.
A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.