New Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs Now Approved

Elizabeth Davis - August 31, 2015
In July 2015, Praluent (alirocumab) was approved by the FDA as the first drug in a new class known as PCSK9 inhibitors. It was joined by Repatha (evolocumab), which received approval on August 27, 2015. These new injectable medications are the first approvals in a long time that may be as effective as statins—or better—at lowering cholesterol.
For now, Praluent is only approved for use in two types of people with high cholesterol. See More
New Cholesterol Medications Coming Soon

Roni Shye - July 30, 2015
Update August 2015: Praluent (alirocumab) and Repatha (evolocumab) have both been approved by the FDA. See more information here.
If you have high cholesterol you likely take a statin medication (atorvastatin (Lipitor), simvastatin (Zocor), Crestor) to help you manage it. Statins have been the mainstay of treatment for high cholesterol since their initial approval in the late 1980s—and recent data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) shows that approximately 22% of Americans 45 years of age and older now take a statin. See More