Inclisiran: what you need to know about this cholesterol-lowering drug

Inclisiran is offered to certain people with high cholesterol on the NHS. Find out how it works and who can get it.

What’s on this page:

• What is inclisiran?
• How is it different from other cholesterol-lowering drugs?
• How is inclisiran given?
• Who can get inclisiran on the NHS?
• Is inclisiran safe?
• Does inclisiran have any other side effects?
• What else can I do to improve my cholesterol levels?

What is inclisiran?

Inclisiran is a cholesterol-lowering treatment that reduces levels of a ‘bad’ cholesterol, called low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, in the blood.

High LDL cholesterol is a well-known risk factor for heart and circulatory disease.

Inclisiran was approved for use on the NHS in 2021, after clinical trials showed it can cut levels of LDL cholesterol by around 50 per cent.

NHS England says inclisiran, whose brand name is Leqvio, could prevent 55,000 heart attacks and strokes, with the potential to save 30,000 lives by 2031.

How is inclisiran different from other cholesterol-lowering drugs?

Inclisiran works by limiting the production of PCSK9, which in turn boosts the liver’s ability to remove harmful cholesterol (LDL) from the blood.

Statins work in a different way to reduce the amount of harmful cholesterol the liver produces – by blocking a substance your body needs to make cholesterol.

How is inclisiran given?

While statins are taken daily as tablets, inclisiran is given as an injection under the skin.

After an initial dose, the drug is given again after three months, and then twice a year.

Nurses can administer inclisiran in GP surgeries, however in some parts of the country people may need to go to hospital for their injections.

Who can get inclisiran on the NHS?

Most people with high cholesterol, or who have had a cardiovascular event such as a heart attack, unstable angina or stroke, will need some form of cholesterol-lowering therapy.

This is normally a statin that works to help reduce cholesterol to recommended levels.

Inclisiran is only offered to people with high cholesterol who have had a previous cardiovascular event and in whom statins have not helped lower their cholesterol levels enough – or who experience too many side effects from statins and are unable to take them.

It can also help those who find it difficult to take medications every day.

Inclisiran can be given on its own or with statins and other cholesterol-lowering drugs.

What are the side effects of inclisiran?

Inclisiran was approved for use in the UK after it was proven to be safe in clinical trials involving 3,600 participants.

Other studies looking at how safe it is to take inclisiran for several years have not found any harmful long-term effects.

However, like all medicines, people can experience side effects. As inclisiran is given as an injection under the skin, some of the most common side effects include pain, redness, or a rash at the injection site.

What else can I do to improve my cholesterol levels?

Whether or not you are prescribed inclisiran, there are lifestyle changes you can make, such as eating healthier, reducing saturated fat intake and doing regular exercise, that can help to lower your cholesterol.

• Get more tips for lowering your cholesterol

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