PCSK9 inhibitors for LDL lowering

• Published in: Trends in cardiovascular medicine Vol. 25; no. 7; pp. 575 - 577
• Main Author: Walsh, James P., MD, PhD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.10.2015; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adverse events; Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal - therapeutic use; Anticholesteremic Agents - therapeutic use; Cardiovascular; Cholesterol - blood; Clinical trials; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia; Hypercholesterolemia - drug therapy; Lipoproteins; Low density lipoprotein; Low density lipoprotein receptors; Monoclonal antibodies; Mutation; Proprotein Convertases - antagonists & inhibitors; Serine Proteinase Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Statins
• ISSN: 1050-1738; 1873-2615
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tcm.2015.02.001

Consistent with this, PCSK9 knockout mice exhibit an exaggerated LDL-C response to statin treatment [10]. Published trials of PCSK9 inhibitors have generally found adverse events, other than minor injection site reactions, to be comparable between groups [5]. [...]the description of a few individuals in apparent normal health with undetectable circulating PCSK9 due to PCSK9 null mutations and LCL-C levels as low as 14mg/dL offers some reassurance that PCSK9 inhibitors will not have serious on-target side effects [17]. If ongoing trials demonstrate improved cardiovascular outcomes and good safety, as seems likely, patients with familial hypercholesterolemia and other LDL hyperlipidemias inadequately responsive to maximal statin therapy will be strong candidates for addition of anti-PCSK9 therapy.