How treatment saves lives

Between 7million and 10million Britons take statins every day to lower their cholesterol

But for some people statins are not strong enough to reduce their levels, meaning the risk to their heart remains

Repatha, administered by patients via an injection pen, blocks a protein that interferes with the liver’s ability to remove cholesterol from the blood

Last May it was made available on the NHS for 325,000 people at high risk

The new study provides much stronger evidence that it saves lives

But the cost is high – £4,400 a year per patient, compared with £20 statins