Summary

Proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a circulating protein that plays a pivotal role in cholesterol homeostasis by reducing expression of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) receptors by the liver, leading to diminished hepatic clearance capacity for plasma LDL-C and increased LDL-C levels in the blood [Cohen JC et al. N Engl J Med 2006; Lagace TA et al. J Clin Invest 2006; Benjannet S et al. J Biol Chem 2010]. AMG 145 is a fully human monoclonal antibody that blocks PCSK9 binding to the LDL receptor, improving LDL-C clearance and reducing circulating LDL-C concentration [Raal F et al. Circulation 2012].