A Pound of Prevention? Assessing the Value of New Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors substantially reduce cholesterol levels, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration–approved PCSK9 inhibitors, alirocumab and evolocumab, came to market priced at $14 000 per year—more than 100 times the cost of a generic statin. Kazi and colleagues performed a cost-effectiveness analysis of alirocumab in secondary prevention based on new trial results and updated pricing. The editorialist discusses the findings and what it takes for preventive therapies to be cost-effective.

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