PCSK9 inhibitors and their role in high-risk patients in reducing LDL cholesterol levels: evolocumab. (March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dahagam, Chanukya; Goud, Aditya; Abdelqader, Abdelhai; Hendrani, Aditya; Feinstein, Matthew J; Qamar, Arman; Joshi, Parag H; Swiger, Kristopher J; Byrne, Kathleen; Quispe, Renato; Jones, Steven R; Blumenthal, Roger S; Martin, Seth S
• Is Part Of: Future cardiology. Volume 12:Number 2(2016)
• Page Start: 139
• Page End: 148
• Publication Date: 2016-03
• Subjects: alirocumab -- evolocumab -- LDL -- monoclonal antibodies -- PCSK9 inhibitors -- statin intolerance; Cardiology -- Research -- Periodicals; 616.12005
• DOI: 10.2217/fca.15.89
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1479-6678

Abstract

Patients with familial hypercholesterolemia or statin intolerance are especially challenging to manage since LDL cholesterol levels often remain considerably elevated despite clinicians' best efforts. With statins regarded as first-line pharmacologic therapy by the current American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines to reduce LDL cholesterol and cardiovascular risk, there is now a critical need to determine when other agents will play a role beyond maximally tolerated statin therapy and lifestyle changes. In this review, we take a closer look at evolocumab (Repatha ® ), one of the new injectable human monoclonal antibodies to PCSK9 and its efficacy and safety properties from the results of various trials.