A twice-a-year cholesterol injection
Inclisiran
An injection given by a healthcare professional that lowers LDL cholesterol and, after starter doses, is needed only twice a year.
What is Inclisiran?
Inclisiran is an injection that lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol. After a couple of starter doses it is given only twice a year by a nurse or other healthcare professional, which suits people who struggle to take daily tablets or need extra lowering on top of them. It works in a newer way, switching off a protein called PCSK9 so the liver clears more LDL from the blood. It is generally well tolerated, with injection-site reactions being the most common effect. In the UK it is sold as Leqvio.
Education and reference only. This is a plain-language guide to Inclisiran — it deliberately contains no doses. Doses depend on the person, the brand and the reason for treatment, and belong with your prescriber. Always check the BNF, the product labelling (SmPC) and follow medical advice.
What it is
Inclisiran is a prescription medicine that lowers LDL cholesterol, the type linked to heart attacks and strokes. It is given as an injection under the skin by a healthcare professional, not something you take at home each day. It is used for people with stubbornly high cholesterol, often alongside a statin or when statins are not enough or not tolerated. Its big practical advantage is the schedule: after two starter doses, it is given just twice a year.
How it works
Inclisiran is a small interfering RNA, a newer type of medicine that works inside liver cells by silencing the instructions for making a protein called PCSK9. Normally PCSK9 breaks down the receptors that clear LDL from the blood, so by reducing it, the liver keeps more of these receptors and removes more LDL. Because the effect lasts a long time, the injections are needed only a couple of times a year after the initial doses.
Company & origin
Originated / developed by: Novartis.
A newer injectable cholesterol-lowering treatment used in the UK, given by a healthcare professional only a couple of times a year.
What it treats
Conditions Inclisiran is used for
Practical use
How to take Inclisiran
General, dose-free guidance — always follow your prescriber's and the leaflet's specific instructions.
- It is given as an injection under the skin by a nurse or other healthcare professional, not taken at home.
- After the first dose, a second is given a few months later, then it continues only twice a year.
- Keep your appointments for the twice-yearly injections so the cholesterol-lowering effect is maintained.
- Carry on with any statin or other cholesterol medicines and healthy habits unless told otherwise.
- Mention any soreness or redness at the injection site, though this is usually mild and settles on its own.
Weighing it up
Advantages & disadvantages of Inclisiran
Advantages
- Given only twice a year after starter doses, so there are no daily tablets to remember.
- Lowers LDL cholesterol substantially, including when statins are not enough or not tolerated.
- Generally well tolerated, with mild injection-site reactions being the most common effect.
Disadvantages
- It is an injection given at a clinic, so it relies on attending appointments.
- It is a newer medicine, so long-term experience is still building.
- Like other cholesterol treatments, it does not make you feel any different.
Practical use
Good to know
The most distinctive thing about inclisiran is that it is an injection given by a healthcare professional, not a tablet you manage yourself, and after two starter doses it is given only twice a year. This makes it appealing for people who find daily tablets hard to keep up or who need more cholesterol lowering despite other treatments. It is usually added to a statin and/or ezetimibe rather than replacing them. It is generally well tolerated; the most common effects are mild reactions where the injection is given, such as redness or soreness. Because it is so new, you will usually be reviewed to check it is working and suiting you, and it does not make you feel any different day to day.
Who should not take it / use with caution
- It is not recommended in pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
- It is used with care in people with severe liver or kidney problems.
- Anyone who has had a serious allergic reaction to it should not have it again.
Monitoring
- Blood tests to confirm LDL cholesterol is falling as expected.
- Reviewing that twice-yearly appointments are being kept.
- Checking overall heart risk and that other cholesterol treatments continue.
Side effects
- Mild reactions where the injection is given, such as redness, pain or swelling, are the most common.
- Occasionally joint aches or shortness of breath.
- Serious allergic reactions are rare but should be reported urgently.
Key interactions
- It has few known interactions and is usually combined with statins and ezetimibe.
- It does not rely on the liver pathways that cause many drug interactions.
- Always tell your prescriber about your other medicines so your care can be coordinated.
Available as: An injection under the skin, given by a healthcare professional.
Answers
Inclisiran: frequently asked questions
How often do I need inclisiran?
After the first dose and a second a few months later, it is given only twice a year, making it one of the least frequent cholesterol treatments.
Do I inject it myself at home?
No. It is given as an injection under the skin by a nurse or other healthcare professional at your clinic or surgery.
How is it different from a statin?
It works in a newer way, silencing a protein called PCSK9 so the liver clears more LDL, and it is an occasional injection rather than a daily tablet; it is often used alongside a statin.
Will it replace my other cholesterol tablets?
Usually it is added to a statin or ezetimibe rather than replacing them, so keep taking your other medicines unless told otherwise.
Is it safe?
It is generally well tolerated, with mild injection-site reactions being the most common effect; serious allergic reactions are rare but should be reported urgently.
Authoritative sources
- BNF
- NICE CKS
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