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

Chanukya Dahagam, Aditya Goud, Abdelhai Abdelqader, Aditya Hendrani, Matthew J Feinstein, Arman Qamar, Parag H Joshi, Kristopher J Swiger, Kathleen Byrne, Renato Quispe, Steven R Jones, Roger S Blumenthal, Seth S Martin

Journal: Future cardiology 2016;12(2):139-48

PMID: 26911578

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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.

Address: MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.; MedStar Good Samaritan/Union Memorial Hospital, Department of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.; Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.; Cardiovascular Division, Brigham & Womens Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.; Cardiovascular Division, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.; Cardiovascular Division, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.; Pediatric Cardiology, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USA.; Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, Carnegie 591, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.

DOI: 10.2217/fca.15.89