PCSK9 inhibition as an emerging lipid lowering therapy: Unanswered questions
Although statins have been used for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia for more than two decades, cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is related at least in part to high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), is the number one cause of death in Europe and the USA. Several studies...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2016-03-01
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| Series: | Hellenic Journal of Cardiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1109966616300021 |
| _version_ | 1819260316347793408 |
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| author | Lοukianos S. Rallidis John Lekakis |
| author_facet | Lοukianos S. Rallidis John Lekakis |
| author_sort | Lοukianos S. Rallidis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Although statins have been used for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia for more than two decades, cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is related at least in part to high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), is the number one cause of death in Europe and the USA. Several studies have shown that the reduction in cardiovascular (CV) events is proportional to the absolute LDL-C lowering achieved with statins. In the quest for further reduction in LDL-C and CV events, new drugs that mainly support statin action have emerged. Since 2003, with the discovery of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), which is a key factor in the LDL clearance pathway, new modalities, mainly in the form of monoclonal antibodies that block this protein (PCSK9 inhibitors), have reached phase III of clinical development with very promising efficacy and safety data. With a mean further reduction of LDL-C levels of ∼60% beyond that achieved with statins, the PCSK9 inhibitors set the bar even lower in terms of LDL-C levels. This review manuscript addresses important questions about the efficacy, safety and clinical use of PCSK9 inhibitors to evaluate the role of these agents in reducing CV risk. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T19:23:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9b7b986c17984f238b4315c06bf204a0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1109-9666 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T19:23:58Z |
| publishDate | 2016-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Hellenic Journal of Cardiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-9b7b986c17984f238b4315c06bf204a02022-12-21T17:34:05ZengElsevierHellenic Journal of Cardiology1109-96662016-03-01572869110.1016/j.hjc.2016.03.002PCSK9 inhibition as an emerging lipid lowering therapy: Unanswered questionsLοukianos S. RallidisJohn LekakisAlthough statins have been used for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia for more than two decades, cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is related at least in part to high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), is the number one cause of death in Europe and the USA. Several studies have shown that the reduction in cardiovascular (CV) events is proportional to the absolute LDL-C lowering achieved with statins. In the quest for further reduction in LDL-C and CV events, new drugs that mainly support statin action have emerged. Since 2003, with the discovery of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), which is a key factor in the LDL clearance pathway, new modalities, mainly in the form of monoclonal antibodies that block this protein (PCSK9 inhibitors), have reached phase III of clinical development with very promising efficacy and safety data. With a mean further reduction of LDL-C levels of ∼60% beyond that achieved with statins, the PCSK9 inhibitors set the bar even lower in terms of LDL-C levels. This review manuscript addresses important questions about the efficacy, safety and clinical use of PCSK9 inhibitors to evaluate the role of these agents in reducing CV risk.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1109966616300021PCSK9 inhibitorsFamilial hypercholesterolemiaCardiovascular events |
| spellingShingle | Lοukianos S. Rallidis John Lekakis PCSK9 inhibition as an emerging lipid lowering therapy: Unanswered questions Hellenic Journal of Cardiology PCSK9 inhibitors Familial hypercholesterolemia Cardiovascular events |
| title | PCSK9 inhibition as an emerging lipid lowering therapy: Unanswered questions |
| title_full | PCSK9 inhibition as an emerging lipid lowering therapy: Unanswered questions |
| title_fullStr | PCSK9 inhibition as an emerging lipid lowering therapy: Unanswered questions |
| title_full_unstemmed | PCSK9 inhibition as an emerging lipid lowering therapy: Unanswered questions |
| title_short | PCSK9 inhibition as an emerging lipid lowering therapy: Unanswered questions |
| title_sort | pcsk9 inhibition as an emerging lipid lowering therapy unanswered questions |
| topic | PCSK9 inhibitors Familial hypercholesterolemia Cardiovascular events |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1109966616300021 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT loukianossrallidis pcsk9inhibitionasanemerginglipidloweringtherapyunansweredquestions AT johnlekakis pcsk9inhibitionasanemerginglipidloweringtherapyunansweredquestions |