Source:

PCSK9 Inhibitors vs. Statins: What’s the Difference? (healthline.com)

Statins have been around for a long time, so there are long-term safety data for them. They can be bought as generics, making them relatively inexpensive. They are taken orally.

PCSK9 inhibitors are comparatively new, so long-term safety data are not as extensive. They are not generic, so they are still expensive. They must be injected. They can lower LDL cholesterol very substantially.

The American College of Cardiology recommends that you and your doctor consider a PCSK9 inhibitor only if:

• you are considered high risk for a cardiovascular problem and your cholesterol is not controlled with statins or other cholesterol-lowering drugs
• you have a genetic condition called familial hypercholesterolemia, which involves extremely high cholesterol levels

In either of these cases, PCSK9 inhibitors are typically prescribed after two types of medication haven’t helped lower your cholesterol levels. For instance, your doctor may first prescribe a statin. If that doesn’t lower your cholesterol levels enough, your doctor may suggest ezetimibe (Zetia) or drugs called bile acid resins. Examples of these include cholestyramine (Locholest), colesevelam (Welchol), or colestipol (Colestid).

If your cholesterol levels are still too high after this second type of medication, then your doctor may suggest a PCSK9 inhibitor.

An alternate choice to a PCSK-9 inhibitor would be inclisiran, with only two injections per year.

These are inhibitors of the PCSKexin and are used often in combination therapy to achieve target goals for lipid therapy. They are available in injection forms are their cost are very high at the moment.

Thank you Prof. Adam B Shapiro, William Feeman,Adeseye Abiodun Akintunde,