Lp(a) is besides LDL-cholesterol clearly the next target to fight cardiovascular disease. The resulting efforts do not begin with the introduction of specific Lp(a)-lowering drugs, but with intensified efforts to treat any risk factors that may be present when a person has high Lp(a) levels. It, so to speak, paves the way for the necessary intensification of our efforts. And it involves the family due to its strong inheritance
Prof. Florian Kronenberg Chair of the Lp(a) International TaskforceLipoprotein(a) represents a distinct and under-addressed dimension of cardiovascular risk. It is genetically determined, present from birth, and largely unaffected by lifestyle or environmental factors, with elevated levels associated with a significantly increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and aortic valve stenosis. Given its stability over the life course, Lp(a) can be identified through a single measurement, offering a clear opportunity for early and more precise risk stratification.
Despite strong and consistent scientific evidence, Lp(a) remains insufficiently embedded in health systems. Testing is not routinely implemented in most countries, awareness outside specialist communities remains limited, and policy frameworks and prevention strategies rarely incorporate Lp(a) in a systematic manner. As a result, a substantial proportion of individuals at increased risk remain undetected.
This disconnect between evidence and implementation has important implications. It reduces the effectiveness of cardiovascular prevention strategies, contributes to avoidable disease burden, and limits the ability of health systems to prepare for the introduction of emerging targeted therapies.
Recent international initiatives, including the Global Lp(a) Summit, have brought renewed attention to these gaps and highlighted the need for coordinated, system-level action. In this context, the Lp(a) International Taskforce (ITF) was established as a global, multidisciplinary platform to align scientific evidence, policy development, and implementation efforts, and to support the systematic integration of Lp(a) into cardiovascular prevention strategies worldwide.
The Lp(a) International Taskforce was convened by the FH Europe Foundation in 2023 as part of a broader effort to develop a global strategy for Lp(a). It brings together expertise across cardiovascular medicine, epidemiology, public health, health economics, policy, and patient advocacy, enabling a comprehensive and implementation-oriented approach.
The Taskforce serves as a platform for alignment and coordination across stakeholders. Its primary function is to support the integration of Lp(a) into health systems by translating scientific knowledge into policy-relevant and implementable frameworks. This includes contributing to the development of policy recommendations, supporting the uptake of clinical guidance, and facilitating dialogue between scientific, clinical, and policy communities. It also plays a central role in advancing the global roadmap for Lp(a), as outlined in international consensus and guideline discussions, which aims to provide countries and institutions with a structured pathway for implementation. In addition, the Taskforce contributes to anticipating future developments in the field, particularly in relation to emerging therapies, and to ensuring that health systems are prepared to incorporate these advances.
The Taskforce is positioned as a strategic and scientific coordination body, grounded in evidence and focused on enabling systemic change. By building on initiatives such as the Global Summit and the Brussels Declaration, it connects research, policy, and practice in a coherent and action-oriented framework.
The Taskforce envisions a health system landscape in which Lp(a) is systematically measured, appropriately integrated into risk assessment, and effectively addressed through evidence-based strategies.
Its mission is to enable coordinated global action that ensures Lp(a) is recognised, measured, and managed as a standard component of cardiovascular prevention and care.