RNA therapeutics
No FDA-approved drug specifically lowers Lp(a) yet, but pelacarsen could change that, a clinical pharmacology review (Am J Cardiovasc Drugs 2022)
Original title: A Review of the Clinical Pharmacology of Pelacarsen: A Lipoprotein(a)-Lowering Agent
This review examines the clinical pharmacology of pelacarsen, an investigational Lp(a)-lowering agent, for patients with genetically elevated Lp(a) at greater risk of coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, stroke and peripheral arterial disease. The authors note that despite American College of Cardiology guidance on using traditional lipid profiles for cardiovascular risk assessment, and the emergence of statin add-on therapies such as ezetimibe and PCSK9 inhibitors, no FDA-approved drug is specifically designed to lower Lp(a), leaving populations with elevated Lp(a) at persistent residual cardiovascular risk. The review presents current clinical and scientific evidence on pelacarsen as a potential preventive therapy to reduce this residual risk by directly lowering Lp(a).
Original abstract
Patients with genetically associated elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels are at greater risk for coronary artery disease, heart attack, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease. To date, there are no US FDA-approved drug therapies that are designed to target Lp(a) with the goal of lowering the Lp(a) level in patients who have increased risk. The American College of Cardiology (ACC) has provided guidelines on how to use traditional lipid profiles to assess the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD); however, even with the emergence of statin add-on therapies such as ezetimibe and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors, some populations with elevated Lp(a) biomarkers remain at an increased risk for cardiovascular (CV) disease. Residual CV risk has led researchers to inquire about how lowering Lp(a) can be used as a potential preventative therapy in reducing CV events. This review aims to present and discuss the current clinical and scientific evidence pertaining to pelacarsen.
PCSK9 inhibitionpelacarsenRNA therapeutics
Summary written by lp-a.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 18 August 2026. Methods.