A New Way to Treat High Cholesterol?
Jun-11-2015

A new class of medications can lower "bad" LDL cholesterol to unheard-of levels, and it may be on the horizon.

The new class is called PCSK9 inhibitors. An FDA advisory panel on Tuesday recommended that the agency approve the first drug, called alirocumab (Praluent). On Wednesday, the panel will decide whether to suggest approval for a second medication, evolocumab (Repatha).

The FDA typically follows the recommendation of its advisory panels. The agency will decide whether to approve both drugs later this summer.

PCSK9 drugs have worked particularly well for people with a family history of high cholesterol and those who may not be able to tolerate widely-prescribed statin drugs. But their estimated price tag is steep.

"Statins work by reducing the production of cholesterol in the liver," says Melina Jampolis, MD, a physician nutrition specialist in California. "These drugs work by pulling [cholesterol] out of the bloodstream more effectively."

More specifically, these drugs allow the molecules that sweep up your bad cholesterol to keep working longer and harder than they would normally.

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