In the context of the study, which included more than 12,000 patients and was detailed at the American Heart Association’s scientific meeting in New Orleans, it was found that this injectable drug reduced the likelihood of a first heart attack by 36%.
Jay Bradner, head of research and development at “Amgen,” explained in an interview that these results are unprecedented, as it is the first time a drug from the “PCSK9” inhibitor class has proven effective in the field of primary prevention, paving the way for its wider use among patients.
Reducing the relative risk of death
The experiment showed that “Repatha” reduced the relative risk of death from cardiovascular disease by 21%, although this result was not considered statistically significant.
“Repatha” works by targeting the “PCSK9” protein, which maintains low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in the blood, helping patients who do not benefit from older statin drugs, which work to prevent the liver from producing harmful cholesterol.
Sales of the drug, which was first approved in 2015, grew by 33% compared to the previous year, bringing total sales to $2.15 billion in the first nine months of 2025.
Last month, “Amgen” allowed “Repatha” to be sold directly to cash-paying consumers in the United States for $239 per month, nearly 60% less than the drug’s previous price of $573.
(Reuters)
