Five Years of Fighting Heart Attacks and Strokes with Repatha?

This summer marks the fifth anniversary of regulatory approval in the U.S. and Europe of Repatha? (evolocumab), one of the most significant advances in reducing LDL or “bad” cholesterol – and lowering the risk of heart attack and stroke in patients with established heart disease – since the introduction of statins in the 1980s.

Each year, some 30 million people worldwide suffer a heart attack or stroke. Among those fortunate enough to survive their first event, more than two in five will have another within just two years. Beyond its terrible human toll, heart disease imposes a staggering financial burden on healthcare systems that are already struggling. In the U.S. alone, heart disease is projected to be a $1-trillion problem in the next 15 years unless we take more aggressive action. 

As I’ve written previously, we will never fully meet the challenge of heart disease until we reorient our healthcare systems from “fixing what’s broken” to predicting who is at greatest risk of devastating cardiovascular events and preventing them from occurring. We can already predict who is most likely to experience a major cardiovascular event. We know from hundreds of scientific studies involving millions of patients that high LDL cholesterol causes heart attacks and strokes. We also know that Repatha is proven to help prevent heart attacks and strokes in patients with established heart disease.  

Now approved in more than 70 countries, Repatha has already made a huge difference for countless people around the world. I congratulate all of my Amgen colleagues who have contributed to its success. Happy anniversary, Repatha! 

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Important U.S. Product Information

Repatha? is an injectable prescription medicine used:

• in adults with cardiovascular disease to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and certain types of heart surgery.
• along with diet alone or together with other cholesterol-lowering medicines in adults with high blood cholesterol levels called primary hyperlipidemia (including a type of high cholesterol called heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia) to reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or bad cholesterol.

Important Safety Information

Do not use Repatha? if you are allergic to evolocumab or to any of the ingredients in Repatha?.

Before you start using Repatha?, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you are allergic to rubber or latex, are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. The needle covers on the single-use prefilled syringes and the inside of the needle caps on the single-use prefilled SureClick? autoinjectors contain dry natural rubber. The single-use Pushtronex? system (on-body infusor with prefilled cartridge) is not made with natural rubber latex.

Tell your healthcare provider or pharmacist about any prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements you take.

What are the possible side effects of Repatha??

Repatha? can cause serious side effects including, serious allergic reactions. Stop taking Repatha? and call your healthcare provider or seek emergency help right away if you have any of these symptoms: trouble breathing or swallowing, raised bumps (hives), rash or itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat or arms.

The most common side effects of Repatha? include: runny nose, sore throat, symptoms of the common cold, flu or flu-like symptoms, back pain, high blood sugar levels (diabetes), and redness, pain, or bruising at the injection site.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects of Repatha?. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information. Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see full Prescribing Information.