Amgen said Thursday that its cholesterol-lowering shot, Repatha, prevented a composite of heart disease death, heart attack, and the most common type of stroke in a 12,000-patient trial.
Analysts have said that the results of the study could help the drug, which has been available since 2015 to reduce cholesterol, reach a broader market. That represents a comeback story for a class of heart drugs known as PCSK9 inhibitors, which initially stumbled commercially despite expectations that they could become the biggest-selling medicines ever. In 2024, Repatha generated $2.2 billion in global sales, up 36% from the year before.
Existing data for Repatha show that it reduces the risks of heart attacks and strokes in those who already have heart problems. Those patients are at higher risk. The drug works because of its ability to lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or LDL-C, often called “bad cholesterol.”
“Despite the vast addressable market, tens of millions of patients globally do not meet LDL-C goals,” David Risinger, an analyst at the investment bank Leerink Partners, wrote in a note to clients previewing the study results in August. “Amgen has indicated that current penetration remains in the low single digits, suggesting the near-term opportunity lies in increasing urgency to treat rather than expanding the patient pool.”
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:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/What-Happens-to-Your-Cholesterol-When-You-Eat-Peanut-Butter-f917af15e02143d197112a19598ffb0f.jpg "Is Peanut Butter Bad for Cholesterol? What Research Says")
