By Marie Rosenthal
Insurance companies are more likely to deny a claim for prescriptions of PCSK9 inhibitors than approve it, according to new research (Circulation 2017 Oct 30. [Epub ahead of print]).
PCSK9 inhibitors, such as evolocumab (Repatha, Amgen) and alirocumab (Praluent, Sanofi-Regeneron), have been shown to reduce low-density lipoprotein by 60% and decrease major cardiac events, but cost much more than other cholesterol-lowering drugs, with an average cost of $14,300 per year.