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Lp(a) Screening is Low, Viz ACS Launch, and AmgenNow
October 9, 2025
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Together with
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“All Americans ought to know how premiums are calculated and why the price of health insurance is so high.”
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Dutch Rojas.
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Coronary artery disease is hard to catch, and even harder if you don’t have the right tools. Tune in to this exclusive Cardiac Wire webinar on October 16th at 1:00pm ET to hear from two leading cardiologists, Dr. Tony Das, MD and Dr. Alberto Morales, MD about why so many CAD cases are under-diagnosed and what your clinic can do to avoid this.
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A recent JACC analysis of the Epic Cosmos database suggests lipoprotein(a) screening is still one of cardiology’s most neglected risk assessment tools, representing a serious gap in the way we evaluate patients’ CVD risk.
- Lipoprotein(a) is a fat molecule that significantly increases CVD risk, with roughly 20% of individuals having elevated levels above 50 mg/dL.
- Despite its well-established relationship with MACE, Lp(a) testing remains widely underutilized in clinics with limited data available until now.
- Currently statins and ezetimibe are the main drugs for lowering Lp(a) levels, but there’s a field of promising Lp(a) therapies on the horizon.
To learn more about Lp(a) testing trends, researchers searched for Lp(a) screening patterns in the Epic Cosmos database from 2015-2024 across more than 300M patients and found both progress and persistent gaps…
- Total distinct patients tested increased dramatically from 14.5k in 2015 to 309k in 2024 (a 21x increase).
- However, annual testing rates rose from just 0.03% in 2015 to only 0.24% in 2024, so only 728k total patients (0.2% of the U.S. population) were tested the entire decade.
- Testing was mostly in adults aged 50-65 years (34.8%), with similar rates between males (51.8%) and females (48.2%).
Despite the growth in the raw number of patients tested, the persistently low testing rate means that the vast majority of at-risk patients fly under the radar despite growing awareness of Lp(a)’s risk implications, but there are two important details to highlight.
- Testing rates varied from state to state, with California (11.6%), Ohio (8.6%), and Texas (7.6%) accounting for the highest testing volumes.
- During the study, Lp(a) testing methods shifted from mass-based assays (mg/dL) to the recommended molar assays (nmol/L), which reached 64.2% of tests by 2024.
The Takeaway
Even with a 21x increase over the past decade, Lp(a) testing in the U.S. is still seriously underutilized at just 0.2% of the population annually and far below what would be needed to identify the potential 20% of people with elevated levels. While some aspects of Lp(a) screening have improved, it may be that we need a true Lp(a) treatment to emerge before screening becomes a priority.
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Heartflow Roadmap Analysis For Efficient Care
As Coronary CT scan volumes increase, your entire reading team needs to deliver efficient and consistent reads. Good thing Heartflow’s Roadmap Analysis can help you maintain accuracy and increase CCTA read speeds by up to 25%, with even level 3 readers seeing real efficiency benefits.
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Making the Leap to Outsource Post-Processing
Interested in how to outsource cardiac image post-processing, but not sure where to start? PIA walks you through how to assess and compare vendors, understand pricing models and payment options, and outline your requirements to identify vendors who meet your clinical needs.
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GLS Analysis of Us2.ai’s Fully-Automated Software
Ten years after the first head-to-head comparison of 2D echocardiography, the latest review suggests Us2.ai is among the easiest to use and integrate. Read the study to learn about how Us2.ai’s software requires zero operator input, operates without human intervention, and leads to high agreement with traditional semi-automated speckle- tracking software solutions.
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- Viz.ai Adds Viz ACS to Cardio Suite: Viz.ai launched Viz ACS, a new solution in its Viz Cardio Suite that unites acute coronary syndrome care teams on a single HIPAA-compliant platform. Viz ACS now consolidates ambulance, ED, and prior ECGs into a mobile viewer, enabling data sharing between emergency physicians and cardiologists. The streamlined workflow replaces fragmented text chains, reduces false cath lab activations, and accelerates treatment through one-click activation. Watch Cardiac Wire’s interview with one of Viz ACS’ early adopters, Dr. Gregory Means, MD, to learn more.
- LAAC Might Not Help Secondary IS: A retrospective look at the OCEAN-LAAC registry suggests left atrial appendage closure may be less effective for secondary stroke prevention in patients who failed OAC therapy. Researchers analyzed 1,418 nonvalvular AFib patients undergoing LAAC and found that patients with prior ischemic stroke despite oral anticoagulation showed significantly higher ischemic stroke recurrence after LAAC (HR: 2.62) compared to controls. Patients with prior ischemic stroke without OAC showed no significant difference, though cardiovascular death rates were similar across groups.
- 3DR Labs Signs HeartLung: HeartLung’s opportunistic AI solutions for cardiac applications will be available through 3DR Labs under a new partnership between the two companies. As part of the partnership, users of 3DR Labs’ 3D post-processing services will have access to HeartLung’s AutoChamber solution for detecting enlarged cardiac chambers and left ventricular hypertrophy.
- Inflammation’s Role in CVD: A recent JACC report confirmed that inflammation plays a crucial role in CVD development and outcomes. For example, the biomarker called high-sensitivity C-reactive protein predicts that CVD events will happen again in patients on statins. The report also reviews inflammation’s role in atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and pericarditis, providing recommendations for screening approaches in prevention and treatment. The authors also clarified that while evidence linking inflammation to atherosclerotic CVD is compelling, not all anti-inflammatory trials succeeded.
- Reprieve’s Robust Series B: Reprieve Cardiovascular raised $61M in Series B financing to support its FASTR II clinical trial for evaluating its HF treatment management system. Reprieve’s system personalizes fluid removal in HF patients through automating diuretic dosing while offering real-time monitoring. The FASTR II trial plans to enroll 400 patients and will compare Reprieve’s efficacy against standard diuretic therapy in acute decompensated HF. The sizable financing round signals that investors see a future where HF care is significantly more personalized than it is today.
- AtaCor’s ICD Funding: AtaCor Medical secured $75M in fresh funds to evaluate its Atala parasternal extravascular ICD system that treats ventricular tachyarrhythmias. The Atala lead is implanted through an incision near the sternum onto the outside of the heart, offering defibrillation and antitachycardia pacing without needing to enter the blood vessels like other leads. Once AtaCor completes its current ASCEND EV study, it plans to launch the ALARION EV study to support global regulatory submissions.
- Bunkerhill’s Cardiac AI Clearance: The FDA cleared Bunkerhill Health’s AI algorithm for detecting and quantifying mitral annular calcification on routine non-gated CT scans. Called Bunkerhill MAC, the algorithm enables users to detect MAC that might have been missed on CT scans for non-cardiac indications. With this latest clearance, Bunkerhill now has the ability to opportunistically analyze chest CTs for CAC, AS, and MAC.
- Caristo’s Longevity Partnership: Caristo Diagnostics partnered with longevity provider Biograph to provide its CaRi-Heart and CaRi-Plaque technologies as part of a research study involving Biograph’s Black Tier members. Caristo and Biograph will enroll 100 asymptomatic people to test Caristo’s AI-based technologies for detecting early heart disease using markers like coronary inflammation and cardiac plaque on CT scans.
- Amgen Expands Access to Repatha: Amgen launched its AmgenNow direct-to-patient program to offer Repatha (evolocumab) at $239 monthly, nearly 60% below current U.S. list price. The move follows the results of Amgen’s VESALIUS-CV trial that showed Repatha led to significant MACE risk reduction in primary prevention patients. The new direct-to-patient program will serve all patient types including uninsured, high-deductible plans, Medicare, and Medicaid beneficiaries without prior authorization or step therapy requirements.
- AstraZeneca’s Bax24 Trial Shows Promise: AstraZeneca’s $1.3B acquisition of CinCor seems to be paying off after the company announced positive Phase 3 results from the Bax24 trial for its aldosterone synthase inhibitor, baxdrostat. The 218 patient study showed that baxdrostat’s significantly lowered 24-hour average systolic blood pressure versus placebo after 12 weeks of once-daily dosing, including during high-risk morning hours. AstraZeneca is currently planning its regulatory filings and anticipates to launch baxdrostat to help reach part of its $80B 2030 sales target.
- Semaglutide At a Costco Near You: Novo Nordisk announced it will sell Wegovy and Ozempic at Costco pharmacies for $499 per four-week supply without insurance, matching prices at its direct-to-consumer site, CVS, and Walmart. The move aims to compete with cheaper compounded versions while expanding access across 600+ Costco locations nationwide. However, experts note this won’t solve accessibility for uninsured or underinsured patients in lower socioeconomic groups who most need these medications. Currently, only 13 states cover GLP-1 drugs for obesity treatment, with 1 in 5 privately insured lacking coverage.
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Merge and Duly Health Streamline Cardiology Reporting
Over the last 10 years, Dr. Sujith Kalathiveetil of Duly Health and Care has seen a significant evolution in cardiovascular imaging and experienced a similar evolution with Merge’s cardiology solutions. See how Merge Cardio has helped make cardiology reporting more consistent, accurate, and easier to obtain for Dr. Kalathiveetil and his colleagues.
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Explore Vitrea Advanced Visualization
Discover Canon Medical Healthcare IT’s suite of advanced imaging workflows designed to increase efficiency in cardiovascular imaging, and facilitate the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. These cutting-edge tools support the delivery of faster, more accurate care while integrating seamlessly into clinical workflow
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Assessing CAD with Circle CVI
Did you know that Circle CVI offers a suite of cardiac CT tools for the assessment of coronary artery disease? See how Circle combines heart function segmentation, automated plaque analysis, CAC scoring, reporting, and viewing in a single dedicated Cardiac CT package.
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- The Benefits of Outsourced Post-Processing: Using an outsourced cardiac image post-processing solution doesn’t have to mean sacrificing control of the results. Discover how PIA’s customizable post-processing workflow can help you get the most out of your images.
- Identify and Treat Cardiovascular Disease: Complex care pathways make getting patients to the next step a challenge. See how Tempus Next, an AI enabled care pathway platform, helps providers identify and reduce under treatment in cardiovascular disease by adding an intelligent layer onto their routinely generated EHR data.
- Why Competitors Benchmark Against Monebo’s ECG Algorithm: In the world of cardiac monitoring, it’s a big deal when your competitors use your technology as their benchmark for success. Learn why Monebo Technologies’ ECG analysis algorithm has been the “predicate device” of at least 13 other companies FDA 510(k) clearance regulatory filings and what this means for providers and their patients.
- Changes in Heart Failure Management: Heart failure is a complex condition with high heart failure hospitalization and cardiovascular mortality rates, especially among patients with HFpEF and HFmrEF, for whom treatment options have been limited. Read how Bayer’s Dr. Alanna Morris-Simon discusses the changing treatment landscape and strategies for improving patient outcomes.
- Siemens Healthineers ACUSON Origin Ultrasound System is Redefining CVUS: ACUSON Origin meets the demands of today’s cardiovascular care with AI-powered efficiency across adult and pediatric echo, vascular, structural heart, and EP. Streamlined workflows, intuitive walk-up usability, and advanced ergonomics empower clinicians to deliver confident, high-quality care—supporting a wide range of complex cases and clinical applications.
- Vista AI Grows CMR Volume: Are your patients waiting weeks or months for cardiac MRIs? See Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s real-world results showing how Vista AI’s software for automated MRI scanning led to 50% more scan slots, without adding more scanners or staff.
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