New Drugs for Lowering LDL-Cholesterol.

LDL-Cholesterol (LDL-C) is a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Although statins are the mainstream treatment for lowering LDL-C level, additional LDL-lowering therapies are needed to reduce residual cardiovascular risk, especially in patients at very high risk, or with hereditary lipid disorderes or statin intolerance. The proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a key regulator for LDL-Receptor activity and an attractive target for the treatment of hypercholesterolaemia. From its discovery in 2003, several therapeutic approaches to the inhibition of PCSk9 have been proposed. Monclonal antibodies that bind to PCSJ9 received marketing approval in 2015 (alirocumab and evolucumab) or are being evaluated in phase III trials (bococizumab). Many other molecules are in preclinical studies, phase I or II clinical trials. Another point of interest carefully investigated is the cardiovascular benefit of reducing LDL-C using these new molecules. High hopes are invested in them.