HIV heart risk targeted: new drug trial aims to quiet arterial inflammation

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Documented HIV infection * On continuous antiretroviral therapy and virologically suppressed HIV infection for ≥12 weeks prior to study entry * CD4 T-cell count ≥ 200 cells/mm3 * Male or female between the ages ≥ 40 years of age * LDL-C ≥ 50 mg/dL * Documented cardiovascular disease as defined by: 1. Prior myocardial infarction, 2. Prior cerebrovascular disease, 3. Prior peripheral arterial disease, 4. History of percutaneous coronary intervention, 5. History of coronary artery bypass graft OR 6. Angiographic evidence of \>50% stenosis in at least one coronary artery\] OR 1 CVD risk factor (T2DM, current smoking, hypertension, dyslipidemia, hsCRP≥2mg/L, family history) * TBR of \>1.6 of the MDS of the carotid/aorta at baseline. This baseline arterial TBR cutoff excludes the rare individual that lacks appreciable arterial inflammation. It is notable that while 5-10% of uninfected individuals will have lower TBRs, it is rare that an HIV infected individual will fall below this range. * Female subjects must either be of non-childbearing potential (defined as post-menopausal or amenorrhea \> 12 months) or agree to use two forms of contraception (one hormonal and one barrier) throughout the study and for at least one month following study completion and have a negative pregnancy test at screening and prior to the first dose of drug. * Males must use at least one method of contraception throughout the study. Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnant/nursing women (as there is no data on bempedoic acid in this setting) * Diabetes requiring insulin (as insulin treatment alters the uptake of 18FDG) * Uncontrolled HTN as defined by baseline blood pressure reading of ≥160 mmHg systolic OR ≥100 mmHg diastolic (exclusion criteria in other studies with BA) * AST/ALT or alkaline phosphatase \>2x ULN * Triglycerides \>500 mg/dL at screening * Cancer within the last 5 years with exception of squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma * Individuals on simvastatin \>20mg or pravastatin \>40mg. All other dosages and statins will be permitted with close monitoring for myopathies including assessment of CK levels * Nephrotic syndrome or eGFR \<30 mL/min/1.73m2 * Cytopenias which include 1) WBC \<3.5 x103/uL 2) Platelet \<120 x103/uL 3) ANC \<1.5 x103/uL, and absolute lymphocytes \<0.8 x 103/uL * Anemia as fined by Hgb \<10 g/dL * Acute systemic infection within 30 days