Purpose of review: To summarize latest clinical studies and to put them into perspectives for clinical relevant subgroups and new therapeutic options.
Recent findings: Have investigated PCSK9 inhibitors in patients with very high cardiovascular risk and insufficient LDL cholesterol lowering under current maximal tolerated lipid-lowering therapy, patients with statin intolerance, or genetic forms of familiar hypercholesterolemia, and patients on LDL apheresis. Purpose of recent cardiovascular endpoint trials has proven cardiovascular benefit of this new approach. PCSK9 inhibition with fully humanized antibodies has proven to be effective, safe, and well-tolerated in reducing cardiovascular risk by LDL cholesterol lowering. Therefore, research interests are to elucidate additional roles and effects of PCSK9 modulation on inflammation and cellular processes of the atherosclerotic plaque and to develop alternative therapeutic strategies addressing PCSK9 as a proven and therefore promising drug target.
Keywords: Atherosclerosis; Familiar hypercholesterolemia; Hypercholesterolemia; LDL apheresis; LDL receptor; Non-HDL cholesterol; PCSK9; Statin intolerance.