Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin Kexin 9 Inhibitors

High levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) are directly associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Reducing LDL-C levels reduces the incidence of cardiovascular events. Several lipid-lowering approaches are available to achieve the LDL-C levels recommended by current guidelines, statins being the first-line therapy. However, many patients cannot achieve the recommended LDL-C levels with current therapies. The discovery of the role of proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin 9 (PCSK9) in the regulation of plasma LDL-C levels suggested it as a potential pharmacologic target and led to the development of PCSK9 inhibitors for the management of LDL-C levels.