When statins are not enough to control your body cholesterol levels, adding PCSK9 Inhibitors may help you to lower your bad cholesterol dramatically!
Before inhibiting this enzyme, What does it do ?
Liver removes your bad Cholesterol known as LDL (low denisity lipoproteins). Liver catches this LDL cholesterol through a receptors, PCSK9 as en enzyme binds to those receptors on liver and prevent the liver from doing its good job! so we have to use the PCSK9 Inhibitors to allow the receptor to work properly and lower your bad cholesterol.
PCSK9 Inhibitors VS Statins
Statins have been recognized on the previous 20 years as the gold standard for the treatment of hyperlipidemia so patients who are intolerant to statins may go for PCSK9 inhibitors or use both of them in a combined therapy synergy.
Mechanism of Action :
MEMBERS OF THIS DRUG CLASS SO FAR :
REPATHA® By Amgen
REPATHA® is evolocumab, approved by FDA in the summer of 2015. REPATHA® is indicated as an adjunct to diet and maximally tolerated statin therapy for the treatment of adults with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) or clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD), who require additional lowering of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C).
PRALUENT® By Sanofi and Regeneron
PRALUENT is used along with diet and maximally tolerated statin therapy in adults with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (an inherited condition that causes high levels of LDL) or atherosclerotic heart problems, who need additional lowering of LDL cholesterol.
Bococizumab By Pfizer Inc.
Pfizer has reported positive result with phase 3 studies for the PCSK9 inhibitor Bococizumab. The Phase 3 program consists of two cardiovascular outcome studies as well as multiple lipid-lowering studies in more than 22,000 patients. Bococizumab is an investigational compound and has not received regulatory approval in any country.