PCSK9 Inhibitors Show Promise for Elderly Patients, New Research Indicates
Rotterdam, Netherlands – November 21, 2025 – Groundbreaking research from Erasmus MC suggests that PCSK9 inhibitors, a class of injectable medications used to lower cholesterol, are a viable and safe treatment option for elderly individuals at high risk of cardiovascular disease. The findings, part of a PhD programme led by ruben Mijnster, challenge previous assumptions about the use of these powerful drugs in older populations and could significantly expand access to life-saving therapies.
For years, PCSK9 inhibitors – evolocumab, alirocumab, and inclisiran – have been primarily reserved for patients intolerant to statins or those whose cholesterol levels remain dangerously high despite conventional treatment.This new research indicates that the benefits of these medications extend to the elderly, a demographic often underrepresented in clinical trials and facing a heightened risk of heart attack and stroke. “Our research shows that PCSK9 inhibitors are also a realistic treatment option for the elderly,” explains Mijnster.
PCSK9 inhibitors work by targeting the PCSK9 protein, which regulates the number of LDL receptors in the liver.By inhibiting PCSK9,more LDL – often referred to as “bad” cholesterol – is removed from the bloodstream,reducing the risk of cardiovascular events. “It is crucial to lower cholesterol – and especially LDL – because of the risk of cardiovascular disease,” Mijnster stated.
Currently, these medications are prescribed to individuals with a history of cardiovascular disease, such as myocardial infarction or stroke, and those with familial hypercholesterolemia, a genetic condition causing dangerously high cholesterol levels. “If statins do not lead to an insufficient reduction in cholesterol, a PCSK9 inhibitor can be added,” Mijnster clarifies. the research offers a potential pathway to broaden the use of these therapies, offering a crucial intervention for a growing segment of the population.