PCSK9 Inhibitors May Not Be Cost-Effective at Current Prices

In a simulation model, using these cholesterol-lowering drugs in their target populations greatly increased net costs — but we don't yet have seminal data on patient outcomes.

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors can greatly lower LDL-cholesterol levels, beyond the effects of statin therapy, in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) or atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). However, the annual U.S. drug cost is currently about $14,350 per patient. Researchers used a simulation model of all U.S. adults (age range, 35–94 years) to assess the cost-effectiveness of PCSK9-inhibitor therapy in patients with heterozygous FH or ASCVD who were taking a statin.

In patients with heterozygous FH, adding a PCSK9 inhibitor to statin therapy was estimated to prevent 316,300 lifetime major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial inf…

Reviewing Author

Karol E. Watson, MD, PhD, FACC

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBoehringer Ingelheim; Amgen; Novartis; Lilly; Amarin

Speaker’s BureauBoehringer Ingelheim

Grant/Research SupportNIH

Editorial BoardsCirculation (Associate Editor)