Wicked Good Cardiometabolic Chat: Pharmacists’ Real-World Implementation of PCSK9 Inhibitors

In episode 6 of Wicked Good Cardiometabolic Chat, Jennifer Goldman, PharmD, CDCES, BC-ADM, FCCP, professor of pharmacy practice at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS), and Hailey Choi, PharmD, BCACP, CDCES, associate professor of pharmacy practice at MCPHS, take a deep dive into proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors and why these therapies are no longer last-resort options in cardiovascular care.

From the introduction of the first statin in 1987 to today’s era of PCSK9 inhibitors and advanced lipid-lowering therapies,¹ Goldman has witnessed the evolution of cardiovascular risk-reduction in real-time.

Having been in pharmacy school when statins first entered clinical practice and now with 36 years of experience, Goldman brings a longitudinal perspective to cardiometabolic management that few clinicians possess. Alongside Choi, the duo translates decades of evidence into practical, patient-centered strategies for managing dyslipidemia, diabetes, and cardiovascular risk.

Episode 6 explores landmark outcomes trials, including FOURIER, ODYSSEY OUTCOMES, and VESALIUS-CV, and what they mean for both secondary and primary prevention, especially in high-risk populations such as patients with diabetes and those with recent acute coronary syndrome. Goldman and Choi break down relative and absolute risk reduction, persistent safety concerns around significantly low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, neurocognition, and diabetes risk.

More importantly, this episode focuses on the pharmacist’s role, from identifying patients who are not at goal to navigating access barriers, educating patients on injections, and advocating for earlier, evidence-based therapy escalation.

Learn from 2 experienced pharmacists in cardiometabolic care as they break down outcomes data, safety concerns, and real-world implementation of PCSK9 inhibitors—equipping pharmacists with the knowledge needed to improve cardiovascular outcomes for high-risk patients.

In Wicked Good Cardiometabolic Chat, a podcast offering from Drug Topics, Goldman and Choi aim to empower pharmacists with evidence-based insights into various cardiometabolic topics. All new episodes of Wicked Good Cardiometabolic Chat will be available in a video format via DrugTopics.com on the first Wednesday of each month. Check out our most recent episode: Deciphering Patients’ Various Insulin Needs.

Pharmacy practice is always changing. Stay ahead of the curve: Sign up for our free Drug Topics newsletter and get the latest drug information, industry trends, and patient care tips, straight to your inbox.

REFERENCE

Endo A. A historical perspective on the discovery of statins. Proc Jpn Acad Ser B Phys Biol Sci. 2010;86(5):484-93. doi: 10.2183/pjab.86.484.