CEO of drugmaker Amgen talks new results from cholesterol drug trial

Amgen CEO Bob Bradway detailed promising results from the company’s recent drug trial, telling CNBC’s Jim Cramer that the medicine can reduce the risk of heart attack.

“This trial answered questions that have been on the mind of investigators and physicians and patients for some time,” Bradway said.

Amgen announced over the weekend that a phase III trial of its drug Repatha can reduce the risk of a first heart attack by 36% when taken with standard cardiovascular treatments. The trial also found that adding Repatha to standard treatments can lower the chance of major cardiovascular events for at-risk patients who have never had a heart attack or stroke by 25%.

Heart disease is a leading cause of death in the U.S., Bradway told Cramer. He said 99% of people who suffer heart attacks have “a modifiable risk factor,” especially level of LDL cholesterol. LDL cholesterol, or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, is referred to as “bad” cholesterol because it can build up in patients’ arteries and form plaque, increasing the likelihood of heart issues.

Bradway said the trial suggested Repatha was able to meaningfully lower patients’ LDL cholesterol levels.

“I think what the study does is it helps people appreciate that, again, when it comes to LDL cholesterol, lower is better,” he said. “The sooner you get to the lower levels, the better, especially for people, for example, who have diabetes, people who, for other reasons, are concerned about their risk of a heart attack or stroke.”