William Cromwell, MD, FAHA, FNLA

New Treatments For Patients Needing Further LDL Reduction Despite Statin Therapy

 

 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved two medications, Praluent and Repatha, to lower LDL in selected patients on maximally tolerated statin therapy.

 

These new drugs are an antibody that targets a specific protein, called PCSK9. PCSK9 reduces the number of receptors in the liver that remove LDL particles from the blood. By blocking PCSK9’s ability to work, more receptors are available to get rid of LDL from the blood and, as a result, lower LDL cholesterol levels.

 

Praluent is an injection approved for use in addition to diet and maximally tolerated statin therapy in adult patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH), or patients with clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), such as heart attacks or strokes, who require additional lowering of LDL cholesterol.

 

Repatha injection is indicated for use in addition to diet and maximally-tolerated statin therapy in adult patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH), homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH), or clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), such as heart attacks or strokes, who require additional lowering of LDL cholesterol.

 

Familial hypercholesterolemia is an inherited condition that causes high levels of LDL beginning in childhood. Chronically high LDL levels in the blood is a causal risk factor linked to cardiovascular or heart disease. Heart disease is the number one cause of death for Americans, both men and women. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 610,000 people die of heart disease in the United States every year– that equals one in every four deaths.

Overall, these medications can lower LDL levels by more than 50 percent on top of maximally tolerated statin therapy with very favorable safety profiles.  

 

Click on the highlighted letters to get more information on Praluent and Repatha.

 

We are currently seeing patients who may be candidates for these therapies. Please contact our office if you have questions, or to schedule an appointment.