What is PCSK9 inhibitors?

The PCSK9 inhibitors are a new class of drugs that have been shown to dramatically lower LDL cholesterol levels. PCSK9 inhibitors are monoclonal antibodies (MABs), a type of biologic drug. They inactivate a protein in the liver called proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin 9 (PCSK9).

Two drugs belongs to this class which already found to have clinical benefits are evolocumab and alirocumab.

Clinical Trial Outcome –

The studies show that two agents, evolocumab or alirocumab, when combined with statins, lower cholesterol better than the statin alone. After one year, those patients who were taking both the PCSK9 inhibitor and the statin together had LDL levels that were at least 60 percent lower than the group taking only statins. LDL levels dropped dramatically. Larger studies are ongoing to evaluate PCSK9 inhibitors on the ability to lower outcomes like heart attack or stroke, but early results suggest cardiovascular events could be lowered by half.

PCSK9 therapy cost is higher than statin.