UK NICE recommends Praluent (alirocumab) and Repatha (evolocumab) for adults with primary hypercholesterolaemia or mixed dyslipidaemia- Sanofi and Amgen

NICE has published final draft guidance recommending 2 new treatment options for some people who have conditions that put them at extremely high risk of heart attacks or strokes. The draft guidance recommends Praluent (alirocumab), from Sanofi and Repatha (evolocumab), from Amgen, for adults with primary hypercholesterolaemia or mixed dyslipidaemia to help reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease. The committees heard that alirocumab reduced levels of LDL-cholesterol by up to 62% compared with placebo, and up to 40% compared with ezetimibe, another commonly used drug to lower cholesterol. Similar reductions were seen with evolocumab.

The drugs are recommended for people with these conditions whose cholesterol levels are not controlled adequately using other drugs such as statins, or who can’t tolerate statins because of their side effects or have another condition which means they can’t take them.