Daewoong Pharmaceutical Indonesia

Daewoong Highlights Indonesia’s Cholesterol Challenge at KICS: Nearly 8 in 10 High-Risk Patients Miss LDL-C Targets

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August 26, 2026

- "Fewer Than 5% Reach LDL-C Target at Initial Visit," Persistent Gap Between Guidelines and Clinical Practice

- "Doubling Statin Dose Adds Only About 6% LDL-C Reduction," Experts Highlight Role of Statin-Ezetimibe Combination Therapy

- "From Medical Education to Clinical Evidence," Daewoong Supports Cardiovascular Prevention in Indonesia

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Badung, BaIi, August 15, 2026 — PT Daewoong Pharmaceutical Indonesia (Daewoong), together with the Indonesian Heart Association (PERKI) and in collaboration with the Korean Society of Cardiology (KSC), held the 1st Korea–Indonesia Cardiovascular Symposium (KICS) in Bali on August 15, 2026. The accredited scientific symposium brought together more than 100 cardiovascular professionals from Indonesia and Korea, both in person and online, to discuss challenges in cardiovascular risk management and explore practical approaches to improving patient care.

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Indonesia continues to face a significant challenge in managing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), commonly known as “bad cholesterol,” among patients at high risk of heart attack and stroke. A multicenter Indonesian registry conducted across eight centers found that nearly 8 in 10 high- and very-high-risk patients failed to achieve their recommended LDL-C goals despite receiving treatment.

Panel discussion at the 1st Korea–Indonesia Cardiovascular Symposium (KICS) 2026 in Bali on August 15, 2026. From left: dr. Anak Agung Ayu Dwi Adelia Yasmin, M.Biomed, Sp.JP(K), Department of Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Udayana / RSUP Prof. dr. I.G.N.G. Ngoerah; Prof. Son Jang-Won, Professor of Cardiology at Yeungnam University Medical Center; Dr. dr. Sunanto Ng, Sp.JP(K), Consultant in Interventional Cardiology and Intensive/Acute Cardiovascular Care at Siloam Hospitals Lippo Village and faculty member at the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Pelita Harapan; Prof. Ko Kyu-Yong, Cardiologist at Severance Cardiovascular Hospital and faculty member at Yonsei University College of Medicine; and dr. Ade Meidian Ambari, Sp.JP(K), President of Perhimpunan Dokter Spesialis Kardiovaskular Indonesia (PERKI), who moderated the session.

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"Fewer Than 5% Reach LDL-C Target at Initial Visit"… Persistent Gap Between Guidelines and Clinical Practice

During the symposium, Dr. dr. Sunanto Ng, Sp.JP(K), Consultant Cardiologist at Siloam Hospitals Lippo Village and a faculty member at the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Pelita Harapan, highlighted the gap between international recommendations and clinical practice in Indonesia.

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“For patients at very high cardiovascular risk, international guidelines now recommend an LDL-C target below 55 mg/dL, and as low as 40 mg/dL for selected patients at extreme risk,” said Dr. Sunanto. “However, in a recent Indonesian multicenter registry, fewer than 5% of high- and very-high-risk patients reached the 55 mg/dL target at their initial visit. We need to identify risk earlier, provide appropriate treatment, and regularly reassess patients until they reach their target.”

Dr. dr. Sunanto Ng, Sp.JP(K), Consultant Cardiologist at Siloam Hospitals Lippo Village and faculty member at the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Pelita Harapan, presents the latest developments in lipid management at the 1st Korea–Indonesia Cardiovascular Symposium (KICS) 2026. His session highlighted Indonesia’s gap in LDL-C goal attainment and the importance of earlier detection, appropriate treatment, and regular reassessment in high- and very-high-risk patients.

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Experts at KICS identified limited treatment access, insufficient reassessment after treatment initiation, and health misinformation as key factors contributing to poor LDL-C goal attainment in Indonesia.

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"Doubling Statin Dose Adds Only About 6% LDL-C Reduction," Experts Highlight Role of Statin-Ezetimibe Combination Therapy

Prof. Ko Kyu-Yong, cardiologist at Severance Cardiovascular Hospital and a faculty member at Yonsei University College of Medicine, explained the rationale for targeting the two major pathways involved in cholesterol regulation: synthesis in the liver and absorption in the intestine.

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“Around 70% of cholesterol comes from synthesis in the liver and 30% from absorption in the intestine,” explained Prof. Ko. “Doubling a statin dose generally provides only about an additional 6% reduction in LDL-C, while adding ezetimibe can provide an additional reduction of approximately 20–25%. This shows why targeting both pathways can be more effective when greater LDL-C reduction is needed.”

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Prof. Ko also presented findings from a large Korean randomized trial involving approximately 3,800 patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease across 26 centers in Korea. The trial found that moderate-intensity rosuvastatin plus ezetimibe was non-inferior to high-intensity rosuvastatin monotherapy for three-year cardiovascular outcomes, while enabling a greater proportion of patients to achieve their LDL-C goals.

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“Clinical results depend on whether patients are able to stay on treatment. Even the most effective medicine does nothing if the patient does not take it," Prof. Ko added. "Patients with cardiovascular risk often manage several medicines every day, and each additional tablet is another chance to miss a dose. When two medicines that work on different pathways can be combined into a single daily tablet, the regimen becomes simpler to follow, and that simplicity is part of what makes long-term treatment work."

Prof. Ko Kyu-Yong, Cardiologist at Severance Cardiovascular Hospital and faculty member at Yonsei University College of Medicine, explains the rationale for targeting both hepatic cholesterol synthesis and intestinal cholesterol absorption during KICS 2026. His presentation covered the “rule of six,” the additional LDL-C reduction achieved with ezetimibe, and evidence from the RACING trial on combination lipid-lowering therapy.

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Fixed-dose combinations (FDC), where two active ingredients are formulated into one tablet, deliver the same medicine exposure as taking the two separately, while reducing the daily pill count. Experts at the symposium noted this as a practical way to support adherence in long-term cardiovascular care, where treatment continues for years and patients typically feel no symptoms.

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Prof. Geu-Ru Hong of Severance Cardiovascular Hospital and Yonsei University College of Medicine also shared Korea’s experience with expanded reimbursement for combination lipid-lowering therapy and discussed changes in myocardial infarction and coronary intervention trends over the past decade.

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dr. Ade Meidian Ambari, Sp.JP, Subsp.P.R.Kv(K), PhD, President of the Indonesian Heart Association (PERKI), added: “Improving cholesterol management requires more than effective therapies. Better outcomes depend on continuous medical education, appropriate access to treatment, regular follow-up, and clear communication that helps patients understand the importance of staying on long-term treatment.”

dr. Ade Meidian Ambari, Sp.JP, Subsp.P.R.Kv(K), PhD, President of the Indonesian Heart Association (PERKI), speaks during the 1st Korea–Indonesia Cardiovascular Symposium (KICS) 2026 in Bali. He emphasized that improving cholesterol management requires not only effective treatment, but also continuous medical education, better access to therapy, regular follow-up, and clear communication to support long-term treatment adherence.

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"From Medical Education to Clinical Evidence,1" Daewoong Supports Cardiovascular Prevention in Indonesia

Daewoong is supporting a non-interventional observational study and a health-economic evaluation with academic partners to generate locally relevant evidence on cholesterol management in Indonesia.

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dr. Wicak Prasetiadi, Head of Brand & Marketing at PT Daewoong Pharmaceutical Indonesia, said: “Improving cholesterol management requires collaboration and evidence that reflects Indonesia’s healthcare realities. Daewoong will continue to support medical education, scientific exchange, and local evidence generation to help advance cardiovascular prevention and care in Indonesia.”

list

- "Fewer Than 5% Reach LDL-C Target at Initial Visit," Persistent Gap Between Guidelines and Clinical Practice

- "Doubling Statin Dose Adds Only About 6% LDL-C Reduction," Experts Highlight Role of Statin-Ezetimibe Combination Therapy

- "From Medical Education to Clinical Evidence," Daewoong Supports Cardiovascular Prevention in Indonesia

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