Understanding ATTR-CM: A Powerful Conversation

This article is sponsored by BridgeBio

ATTR-cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CM) is a serious but often overlooked heart condition that disproportionately affects Black communities. This was the focus of the Understanding ATTR- CM discussion, hosted by BlackDoctor and sponsored by BridgeBio Pharma, Inc., which brought together cardiologists, medical experts, and a patient advocate to highlight the science, lived experience, and importance of early recognition and treatment.

Caused by unstable transthyretin (TTR) proteins that break apart and form amyloid deposits in the heart, ATTR-CM can lead to fatigue, shortness of breath, irregular heart rhythms, and eventually heart failure. Despite its severity, ATTR-CM remains widely underdiagnosed, in part because its symptoms often mimic other health issues or get dismissed as normal aging.

Why This Matters

Early detection and treatment of ATTR-CM can help and impact health-related quality of life. But awareness among both healthcare providers and patients remains low, leading to misdiagnoses and missed opportunities for intervention. For Black patients in particular, genetic risk factors and systemic healthcare gaps heighten the need for education, advocacy, and culturally competent care.

Treatment and Support

Panelists emphasized that today’s therapies—including TTR protein stabilizers like Attruby® (acoramidis)—are capable of reducing death and hospitalizations related to heart problems for adults with ATTR-CM. Equally important are copay assistance and patient support programs that help families navigate the financial challenges of long-term treatment.

From a medical perspective, experts underscored that treatment management works best when ATTR-CM is identified early, before extensive damage occurs. That means listening closely to patient symptoms, considering family history, and ensuring genetic testing when appropriate.

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Panelists Spotlight

The session featured diverse perspectives across medicine and caregiving:

• Dr. Ashanti Carter – Chief Academic Liaison, BlackDoctor, moderator.
• Dr. Barbara Hutchinson, MD, PhD, FACC – Cardiologist, Chesapeake Cardiac Care.
• Dr. Ola Akinboboye, MD, MPH, MBA – Medical Director, Laurelton Heart Specialists.
• Velma Henderson – Caregiver advocate, sharing family experiences with ATTR-CM.

Key Takeaways: What This Means for Patients

1. Know the Symptoms – Fatigue, swelling, and shortness of breath should not be dismissed as “just aging.” They may point to a deeper condition.
2. Ask About ATTR-CM – Patients, especially Black Americans, should raise ATTR-CM with their doctors if they notice persistent heart-related symptoms.
3. Family Matters – Hereditary ATTR-CM carries a 50% chance of being passed down. Family testing is essential.
4. Treatment Exists – While there is no cure, there are medications that may help reduce death and hospitalizations due to heart problems and impact health-related quality of life.
5. Advocate for Yourself – Patients and caregivers should push for answers, seek second opinions, and find providers familiar with ATTR-CM.

What is Attruby?

Attruby is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with a disease that affects the heart muscle called cardiomyopathy of wild-type or variant transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis (ATTR-CM), to reduce death and hospitalization related to heart problems.

It is not known if Attruby is safe and effective in children.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Before taking Attruby, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:

• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

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What are the possible side effects of Attruby?

The most common side effects of Attruby were mild and include:

• diarrhea
• stomach-area (abdominal) pain

These are not all of the possible side effects of Attruby.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-332-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

For the Full Prescribing Information and Patient Information for Attruby, visit Attruby.com/PI.

Attruby and the Attruby logo are trademarks of BridgeBio Pharma, Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners

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