PCSK9 and atherosclerosis: In 2015, the United States (US) Food and Drug Administration approved the proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors alirocumab and evolocumab for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) or familial hypercholesterolemia, who need additional low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol lowering.