Beyond statins: New medicines for hard-to-manage cholesterol
Statins succeed as the first-line drug therapy to lower LDL cholesterol levels in most people who need medications, but at least one in five individuals still fails to reach the desired target. A novel class of drugs called PCSK9 inhibitors may pick up the slack where other cholesterol medications leave off. The first group of people to benefit will be those with a condition known as familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), an inherited disorder that affects about one in 200 individuals. These people carry a genetic variant that causes cholesterol levels to skyrocket.
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Source matters. Subscribe to HarvardHealthOnline+ FREE for 30 days for unlimited access to the site – where all content is reviewed by an HMS physician or faculty expert.
With HHO+ you get these exclusive benefits:
- Unlimited access to all Harvard Health Online content
- 4 expertly curated newsletters delivered monthly
- Customized website experience aligned to your health goals
- In-depth health guides on topics like sleep, exercise, and more
- Interactive features like videos and quizzes
- Members-only access to exclusive articles and resources
SPECIAL OFFER! UNLOCK EXPERT ACCESS for 30 days FREE!
Already a member? Login ».
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
