Cardiovascular risk reduction: the future of cholesterol lowering drugs

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in developed and developing countries. LDL lowering therapies have a major role in reduction of cardiovascular events. Statins have been the mainstay of LDL lowering therapies with 20-60% reductions in LDL cholesterol. Monoclonal antibodies to proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) represent a new therapeutic option, reducing LDL cholesterol by an additional 40-70% on top of other lipid lowering therapies. This is likely to produce significant cardiovascular risk reduction, although clinical cardiovascular outcomes trials are still in progress. HDL cholesterol raising and triglyceride lowering therapies have not yet shown unequivocal benefits for cardiovascular risk reduction. New therapies in these areas are in development, and their future promise remains to be demonstrated.