Which statement about interaction between bempedoic acid and certain statins is true?

• A. Bempedoic acid increases the concentration of simvastatin and pravastatin
• B. No interaction with statins
• C. Decreases the efficacy of statins
• D. Only interacts with atorvastatin

Answer: (A)

When two drugs affect how each other is cleared by the liver, one can end up with higher levels of the other drug in the blood. Bempedoic acid can raise the exposure of certain statins, especially simvastatin and pravastatin, when they’re given together. This happens because bempedoic acid or its active metabolite can interfere with hepatic processes that clear statins (such as uptake into the liver via transporters), leading to higher plasma concentrations of these statins. Clinically, this means a greater risk of statin-related side effects like muscle symptoms or, rarely, rhabdomyolysis, so dosing adjustments are advised when these two drugs are combined. In contrast, not all statins are affected to the same extent, which is why the statement about increased concentrations specifically applies to simvastatin and pravastatin rather than all statins.