repatha

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

The identification by Abifadel et al. in 2003 of the first mutations of PCSK9 was the major breakthrough in the cholesterol field that led to a new therapeutic target. This discovery paved the way to new lipid lowering drugs reducing LDL-cholesterol levels through the inhibition of PCSK9. Two anti-PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies have received FDA and EMA approvals: Alirocumab and Evolocumab. Areas covered: This article reviews the different strategies that are pursued to modulate the functional activity of PCSK9 for lowering LDL-cholesterol levels...

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) binds to low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors leading to their degradation in the liver. Inhibition of PCSK9 leads to an increase in LDL receptors and as a result to a reduction of LDL cholesterol in blood. Currently, two antibodies against PCSK9 are available for clinical treatment in Germany, evolocumab (Repatha®) and alirocumab (Praluent®). Clinical studies have shown that treatment with these antibodies, which must be subcutaneously injected by patients every 2 or 4 weeks, in addition to an already existing lipid therapy can lower the LDL cholesterol level in blood by an average of 50-60 %...

In 2015 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first two proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors, alirocumab (Praluent®; Sanofi/ Regeneron) and evolocumab (Repatha®; Amgen), for use in patients with heterozygous and homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and for patients intolerant of statins or those with a major risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) but unable to lower their LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) to optimal levels with statins and ezetimibe. Numerous randomized clinical trials have demonstrated that these inhibitors cause a fall in LDL-C levels of 50-60% as well as causing a decline in lipoprotein(a) and an increase in HDL cholesterol...

This review analyzes Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin 9 inhibitors (PCSK-9), a new medication class that has arisen in the last year to combat hypercholesterolemia. They are targeted towards patients who are unable to achieve acceptable low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels despite maximum statin therapy, as well as those who are unable to tolerate maximum statin therapy due to side effects such as myopathy or myalgia. Two of these medications have been released in the last year: alirocumab (Praluent) and evolocumab (Repatha)...

BACKGROUND: LDL cholesterol (LDLC) lowering has been revolutionized by PCSK9 inhibitors, Alirocumab (Praluent) and Evolocumab (Repatha), approved as adjuncts to maximally tolerated cholesterol lowering therapy in heterozygous (HeFH) or homozygous (HoFH) familial hypercholesterolemia, and/or clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) where LDLC lowering is insufficient. METHODS: We applied FDA and insurance eligibility criteria for PCSK9 inhibitor use in 734 hypercholesterolemic patients serially referred over 3 years who then received ≥ 2 months maximally tolerated LDLC lowering therapy with follow up LDLC ≥ 70 mg/dl, and in 50 patients approved by insurance for PCSK9 inhibitors...

Patients with familial hypercholesterolemia or statin intolerance are especially challenging to manage since LDL cholesterol levels often remain considerably elevated despite clinicians' best efforts. With statins regarded as first-line pharmacologic therapy by the current American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines to reduce LDL cholesterol and cardiovascular risk, there is now a critical need to determine when other agents will play a role beyond maximally tolerated statin therapy and lifestyle changes...

Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors are novel agents indicated for the treatment of hyperlipidemia. Inhibition of PCSK9 produces an increase in surface low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors and increases removal of LDL from the circulation. Alirocumab (Praluent; Sanofi/Regeneron, Bridgewater, NJ) and evolocumab (Repatha; Amgen, Thousand Oaks, CA) are currently available and approved for use in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, and clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease...

▼Evolocumab (Repatha-Amgen Ltd) and ▼alirocumab (Praluent-Sanofi) are the first in a novel class of lipid-regulating drugs, proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors, to be licensed in the UK. Both drugs have marketing authorisation for the treatment of primary hypercholesterolaemia (heterozygous familial and non-familial) or mixed dyslipidaemia and are administered by subcutaneous injection. Here we consider the evidence for evolocumab and alirocumab in the management of primary hypercholesterolaemia and dyslipidaemias...

Low HDL is an independent risk factor for myocardial infarction. This paper reviews our current understanding of HDL, HDL structure and function, HDL subclasses, the relationship of low HDL with myocardial infarction, HDL targeted therapy, and clinical trials and studies. Furthermore potential new agents, such as alirocumab (praluent) and evolocumab (repatha) are discussed.

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic disorder characterized by significantly elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations that result from mutations of the LDL receptor, apolipoprotein B (apo B-100), and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9). Early and aggressive treatment can prevent premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in these high-risk patients. Given that the cardiovascular consequences of FH are similar to typical hypercholesterolemia, traditional therapies are utilized to decrease LDL-C levels...

The number of novel antibody therapeutics that received first marketing approvals in 2015 met expectations, with 6 (alirocumab (Praluent®), evolocumab (Repatha®), daratumumab (Darzalex®), dinutuximab (Unituxin®), idarucizumab (Praxbind®), mepolizumab (Nucala®)) granted first approvals as of mid-November*. Seven novel antibody therapeutics (begelomab, brodalumab, elotuzumab, ixekizumab, necitumumab, obiltoxaximab, reslizumab) are in regulatory review, and thus a similar number, if not more, are projected to gain first approvals in 2016...

Evolocumab (Repatha(®)) is a monoclonal antibody targeting proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) that is administered subcutaneously at a dosage of 140 mg every 2 weeks or 420 mg once monthly. Across 12-week phase III trials in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia or mixed dyslipidemia, evolocumab was more effective than placebo (treatment difference -54.8 to -76.3%) and/or ezetimibe (treatment difference -36.9 to -47.2%) at reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, including when added to statin therapy, when administered to statin-intolerant patients, when administered as monotherapy, and in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia who were receiving statins with or without other lipid-lowering drugs...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Evolocumab (Repatha) for patients with hypercholesterolemia whose condition has not been controlled by statins and other therapies; trifluridine/tipiracil (Lonsurf) for metastatic colorectal cancer; and blood coagulation factor VIII (Nuwiq) for adults and children with hemophilia A.

The second FDA-approved PCSK9 inhibitor evolocumab (Repatha) appears to be similar in efficacy and safety to alirocumab (Praluent), but no comparative studies are available. Given by subcutaneous injection every 2 weeks or once monthly, evolocumab can further lower LDL-cholesterol levels by about 60% in patients at high risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease already taking maximal statin therapy. Its effect on cardiovascular outcomes remains to be established. The long-term efficacy and safety of both evolocumab and alirocumab are unknown, and they are expensive...

Pro-protein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a secreted 692-amino acid protein that binds surface low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor (LDLR) and targets it toward lysosomal degradation. As a consequence, the number of LDLRs at the cell surface is decreased, and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) clearance is reduced, a phenomenon that is magnified by gain-of-function mutations of PCSK9. In contrast, loss-of-function mutations of PCSK9 result in increased surface LDLR and improved LDL-C clearance. This provides the rationale for targeting PCSK9 in hypercholesterolemic subjects as a means to lower LDL-C levels...

Evolocumab (Repatha™) is a fully human monoclonal antibody developed by Amgen that has been approved as a treatment for hypercholesterolaemia in the EU, and is awaiting approval in the USA and Japan. It specifically binds proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9)-a negative regulator of low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-receptors-thereby improving the ability of the liver to bind LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), leading to reduced LDL-C blood levels. The drug reduces LDL-C levels in patients with hypercholesterolaemia when used as monotherapy or in conjunction with a statin...