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

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.