A lot has happened in the world of cardiology in 2021. Here are my top 10 developments in the field.
10. New cholesterol medications. Inclisiran, sold under the brand name Leqvio, was approved by the FDA in December. It lowers cholesterol, but needs to be given only as a twice per year infusion. Right now, it is approved solely for familial hypercholesterolemia, a genetic cause of high cholesterol. Inclisiran is a type of PCKS9 synthesis inhibitor which reduces LDL cholesterol by about 50% to 60%. A trial is ongoing to investigate the effects of inclisiran on major adverse cardiovascular events.