Hyperlipidaemia is a major risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. Statins are the mainstay of therapy and new guidelines focus on the use of these agents without specific targets for low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol or non high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol. However, patients remain at risk of cardiovascular disease despite statin therapy so new drugs are required. This article reviews therapies in development to further lower LDL-cholesterol (Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin-9 (PCSK-9) inhibitors), raise HDL-holesterol (cholesterol ester transfer protein inhibitors (CETPIs)) and reduce triglycerides (novel peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-agonists and omega-3 fatty acid preparations). Specialised therapies are in development for treatment of orphan disoders such as homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (lomitapide) or familial chylomicroaemia (alipogene tiparvovec). These novel lipid-lowering agents are likely to find uses in treating patients at the highest cardiovascular risk. ? 2014 Royal College of Physicians.
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