Exploring the benefits of alirocumab as lipid-lowering therapy in people with diabetes and very high cardiovascular risk

Abstract

People with diabetes mellitus (DM) are at a higher risk (2-4 times) for cardiovascular (CV) death and atherosclerotic CV disease (ASCVD) than the general population. A multifactorial approach is recommended to reduce CV risk. Since low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is a major causal and cumulative risk factor for ASCVD, the management of lipids is a fundamental element in global risk reduction. Intensive lipid lowering therapy (LLT), such as the addition of a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitor (PCSK9i), to achieve LDL-C goals and reduce the risk of first or recurrent CV events in people with DM at very high CV risk (VHCVR) of ASCVD (i.e. acute coronary syndrome, coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease) is often required. Alirocumab, a monoclonal antibody against PCSK9, as lipid-lowering therapy offers significant CV benefits and a favourable safety profile in people with DM and a VHCVR, with or without previous CV events. This review highlights the role of LDL-C in the complex pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, summarises the guidelines for CV risk reduction related to LDL-C in patients with DM and a VHCVR, and focuses on the role of alirocumab in managing LDL-C and consequent CV risk reduction in these patients.

Keywords: Alirocumab; Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular risk reduction; Diabetes mellitus; Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.