alirocumab at a glance
Medicine class
PCSK9 inhibitor monoclonal antibody
Administration
Injection under the skin using a single-use pre-filled pen
Injection sites
Thigh, abdomen or upper arm; rotate sites and avoid damaged or inflamed skin
Storage
Keep refrigerated and protected from light. A pen may be kept below 25°C for one period of up to 30 days; do not freeze.
What is alirocumab used for?
Licensed uses include:
Primary hypercholesterolaemia or mixed dyslipidaemia in adults, alongside diet and suitable lipid-lowering treatment.
Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia in children and young people aged 8 years and over, alongside diet.
Reducing cardiovascular risk through LDL-cholesterol lowering in adults with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Use alone or with other lipid-lowering therapies when statins are not tolerated or are contraindicated.
How does alirocumab work?
PCSK9 promotes the breakdown of LDL receptors on liver cells. Alirocumab binds PCSK9, leaving more receptors available to remove LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream.
alirocumab preparations and strengths
How to take alirocumab
Use the pre-filled pen exactly as demonstrated by a healthcare professional and follow its instructions for use.
Allow the pen to reach room temperature before injection.
Inject under the skin of the thigh, abdomen or upper arm.
Rotate injection sites and avoid skin affected by rash, inflammation, infection, sunburn or injury.
Do not inject another injectable medicine into the same site.
Check that the solution is clear and colourless to pale yellow, without visible particles.
Place used pens in a puncture-resistant sharps container.
alirocumab side effects
Common or expected effects
- Redness, itching, swelling, pain or tenderness at the injection site
- Sore throat, runny nose or sneezing
- Generalised itching
Get urgent medical advice
- Difficulty breathing or swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat
- Severe hypersensitivity, including hives or blistering, coin-shaped eczema
- Rash or purple skin spots, sometimes with diarrhoea, suggesting hypersensitivity vasculitis
alirocumab in pregnancy
Human pregnancy data are unavailable, and alirocumab is expected to cross the placenta. It is not recommended during pregnancy unless the clinical condition requires treatment; discuss pregnancy or plans to conceive with the specialist prescriber.
alirocumab while breastfeeding
It is unknown whether alirocumab enters human milk. Use is not recommended during the colostrum period; later exposure is expected to be low, but effects on the infant remain unknown. Continuing breastfeeding or alirocumab requires an individual specialist assessment.
alirocumab interactions
Clinically important metabolic interactions are not expected, but lipid-lowering medicines can alter alirocumab exposure.
Statins
They increase PCSK9 production and reduce alirocumab exposure, although LDL-cholesterol lowering is maintained.
Ezetimibe or fenofibrate
These can reduce alirocumab exposure; assess effectiveness using lipid results.
Medicines metabolised by cytochrome P450 enzymes
Alirocumab is not expected to alter their metabolism.
Common questions about alirocumab
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What type of treatment is alirocumab?
It is a monoclonal antibody and PCSK9 inhibitor that increases the liver’s ability to remove LDL cholesterol from blood.
Can alirocumab be used without a statin?
Yes. It may be used alone or with other lipid-lowering treatments when statins are not tolerated or are contraindicated.
Can I inject alirocumab myself?
Adults may self-inject after training. Children under 12 must have injections given by a caregiver; older children should have adult supervision.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.