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

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

doi:10.2217/fca.15.88

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

Future Cardiol. 2016 Mar;12(2):149-57. doi: 10.2217/fca.15.88. Epub 2016 Feb 25.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
² MedStar Good Samaritan/Union Memorial Hospital, Department of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
³ Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
⁴ Cardiovascular Division, Brigham & Womens Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
⁵ Cardiovascular Division, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
⁶ Cardiovascular Division, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
⁷ Pediatric Cardiology, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USA.
⁸ 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.

PMID: 26911710
DOI: 10.2217/fca.15.88

Abstract

In this review, we examine alirocumab (Praluent(®)), a monoclonal antibody to PCSK9 and its role in reducing LDL-C levels. By comparing the results of various studies and trials we discuss the efficacy and safety of alirocumab. We aim to guide clinicians of the role of alirocumab in clinical practice. Overall, PCSK9 inhibitors are promising new agents in further reducing LDL-C levels in addition to diet and maximally tolerated statin therapy. Long-term outcome studies are currently ongoing and will further delineate the role of PCSK9 inhibitors.

Keywords: LDL; PCSK9 inhibitors; alirocumab; evolocumab; monoclonal antibodies; statin intolerance.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
Cholesterol, LDL / blood*
Humans
Hypercholesterolemia / drug therapy*
PCSK9 Inhibitors*

Substances

Antibodies, Monoclonal
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
Cholesterol, LDL
PCSK9 Inhibitors
PCSK9 protein, human
alirocumab