Repatha and Praluent are especially expensive because they would be taken for such a long time. Unlike an antibiotic, which patients take for a few days or weeks, those prescribed Repatha would take it for the rest of their lives.

Repatha (evolocumab) is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9). PCSK9 is a protein found in the liver that plays a key role in plasma cholesterol metabolism. Once administered it binds to PCSK9 and prevents the circulating PCSK9 from binding to LDL receptors.

Repatha belongs to a class of medications called PCSK9 inhibitors. These drugs help your body remove LDL (“bad”) cholesterol more effectively than it could on its own. They work differently than other drugs used for high cholesterol, such as statins, and have different side effects as well.

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.

Doctors prescribe Repatha to treat high cholesterol and lower the risk of cardiovascular problems. But, it can have adverse effects, such as upper respiratory symptoms, high blood pressure, and high glucose levels.

The cost for Repatha (evolocumab) subcutaneous solution (140 mg/mL) is about $258.00 for one of the 140 mg single-use prefilled autoinjectors or a prefilled syringe.

Action. FDA has approved Repatha (evolocumab) injection as an add-on treatment to diet alone or together with certain other therapies for patients aged 10 years and older with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) and homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH).

“In contrast, the PCSK9 inhibitors did not show any increase in risk of hemorrhagic stroke,” Saver says. The findings suggest that in those patients who have had prior hemorrhagic stroke, PCSK9 inhibitors may be a safer choice for cholesterol management than statins, the authors say.

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.

Amgen's cholesterol medicine Repatha safe to use in kidney disease patients. Amgen Inc. said its cholesterol-lowering medicine Repatha was safe to use in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Weight gain or weight loss has not been reported as a side effect of Repatha in clinical trials. Monoclonal antibodies, such as Repatha, tend to have few drug interactions and are unlikely to cause liver or kidney damage. No overall differences in safety or efficacy were observed in elderly patients.

Repatha is a medicine that is designed to be taken long term to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Repatha works while you are using Repatha so if you stop taking Repatha, and once all of the Repatha has left your body, then it will stop having its beneficial effect.