FDA recommends the approval of new cholesterol-lowering drug.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 73.5 million people in the US have high levels of "bad" cholesterol known as low-density lipoprotein (LDL). What is more, less than half of adults with high LDL cholesterol are receiving treatment for the condition.
High cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart diseases putting individuals at twice the risk for the condition. Lowering LDL cholesterol can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease, as well as the risk of heart attacks, stroke and other cardiovascular conditions.
At present, a class of drugs called statins are the standard treatment for high LDL cholesterol and have been for the past 2 decades. Statins lower levels of LDL cholesterol by interfering with an enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase, which is responsible for cholesterol production in the liver. 
However, though statins are an effective class of cholesterol-lowering drugs, they can produce a number of side effects, including muscle pain, liver damage, digestive problems and increased blood sugar. Research has also linked statin use to memory loss.
Alirocumab (brand name Praluent) lowers LDL cholesterol by inhibiting PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9) - a protein that impairs the liver's ability to remove cholesterol from the blood. 
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