Comprehensive medication guide to Leqvio including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
$0–$10 per injection for most commercially insured patients; Leqvio is covered under the medical benefit (not pharmacy benefit) using HCPCS code J1306. Medicare Part B covers 80% after the Part B deductible; Medigap patients may pay $0. Prior authorization required by most plans.
Estimated Cash Pricing
$3,652–$3,731 retail per injection (brand only; no generic available); first year requires 3 doses (~$9,750–$11,200); ~$7,300–$7,500 annually thereafter. The Leqvio Co-Pay Program may reduce cost to $0 for eligible commercially insured patients.
Medfinder Findability Score
72/100
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Leqvio (inclisiran) is a first-in-class small interfering RNA (siRNA) medication manufactured by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. It was FDA-approved on December 22, 2021, and is used to lower LDL cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol) in adults with primary hyperlipidemia, including heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).
Leqvio is given as a subcutaneous (under the skin) injection of 284 mg, administered by a healthcare provider in a clinic or doctor's office. Patients cannot self-administer it at home. The maintenance dosing schedule is just twice a year — a significant advantage for adherence over daily pills or more frequent injections.
In clinical trials (the ORION program), Leqvio reduced LDL-C by 40–51% from baseline on top of existing lipid-lowering therapy. LDL-C reduction begins within 14 days of the first injection and is sustained for the full 6-month interval between maintenance doses.
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Leqvio works through a novel mechanism called RNA interference (RNAi). It is a double-stranded siRNA molecule conjugated to GalNAc (N-acetylgalactosamine), which directs it specifically into liver cells. Once inside, it loads into the RNA-Induced Silencing Complex (RISC), which catalytically destroys the messenger RNA (mRNA) responsible for producing the PCSK9 protein.
PCSK9 normally degrades LDL receptors on liver cells, reducing the liver's ability to clear LDL cholesterol from the blood. By preventing PCSK9 from being made, Leqvio allows more LDL receptors to remain active on the liver cell surface, dramatically increasing LDL-C uptake and clearance.
This mechanism differs fundamentally from statin drugs (which block cholesterol synthesis) and from monoclonal antibody PCSK9 inhibitors like Repatha and Praluent (which block PCSK9 after it's made). Because Leqvio stops PCSK9 production at the mRNA level through a catalytic process, its effects are sustained for approximately 6 months per injection.
284 mg / 1.5 mL — subcutaneous injection
Single-dose prefilled syringe (189 mg/mL). Administered by healthcare provider into abdomen, upper arm, or thigh.
Leqvio is not on the FDA's drug shortage list as of 2026. Novartis maintains stable manufacturing and supply. However, because Leqvio is a physician-administered specialty drug — not a retail pharmacy medication — patients cannot pick it up at Walgreens or CVS. It must be ordered by a clinic and administered by a healthcare provider in-office.
Not every clinic stocks Leqvio. Access is primarily limited by insurance prior authorization requirements, the need to find a provider who has the drug in stock, and appointment wait times at cardiology and lipid specialty practices. Once prior authorization is approved and a provider is found, the drug is generally available.
If you're struggling to find a clinic with Leqvio in stock, medfinder calls providers near you to find out who has your medication available — saving you hours of phone calls.
Leqvio is not a controlled substance and has no special DEA prescriber registration requirements. Any licensed healthcare provider can write a prescription. However, because Leqvio must be administered by a healthcare professional in a clinical setting, both a prescriber and an administering provider are needed.
Telehealth availability: A provider can evaluate and prescribe Leqvio via telehealth, but the injection itself requires an in-person visit to a clinical setting. Cardiology-focused telehealth platforms can coordinate care and refer patients to a local injection center.
No. Leqvio (inclisiran) is not a controlled substance. It has no DEA schedule and is not subject to controlled substance prescribing restrictions such as limits on refills, required in-person visits, or special prescriber registration.
Any licensed prescriber — including physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants — can prescribe Leqvio. The main access barriers are insurance prior authorization requirements and the logistics of finding a clinic that administers it in-office, not controlled substance regulations.
Adverse reactions occurring in ≥3% of patients in clinical trials, more frequently than placebo:
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Repatha (evolocumab)
PCSK9 monoclonal antibody; ~60% LDL-C reduction; self-injected every 2 weeks or monthly; strong CV outcomes data from FOURIER trial; requires refrigeration.
Praluent (alirocumab)
PCSK9 monoclonal antibody; ~60% LDL-C reduction; self-injected every 2 weeks; proven CV outcomes in ODYSSEY OUTCOMES trial.
Atorvastatin / Rosuvastatin (statins)
First-line oral cholesterol-lowering therapy; ~50% LDL-C reduction at high intensity; daily pill; generic available for ~$4–$15/month; strong long-term CV outcomes evidence.
Ezetimibe (Zetia)
Cholesterol absorption inhibitor; ~20% LDL-C reduction; daily oral pill; generic available; used as add-on to statins before escalating to PCSK9 inhibitors.
Nexletol (bempedoic acid)
Oral ATP-citrate lyase inhibitor; ~18–28% LDL-C reduction; daily pill; option for statin-intolerant patients; CV outcomes data from CLEAR Outcomes trial.
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Statins (atorvastatin, rosuvastatin)
minorNo clinically significant interaction. Leqvio does not affect statin plasma levels and is designed to be used concomitantly with statins.
Ezetimibe
minorNo known interaction. Effects are additive for LDL-C reduction.
CYP450 substrates (most oral medications)
minorNo interaction. Leqvio is not a CYP450 substrate, inhibitor, or inducer and does not affect medications metabolized by the CYP450 system.
Anticoagulants (warfarin, NOACs)
minorNo clinically significant interaction identified. Always inform your provider of all medications.
Leqvio (inclisiran) represents a genuine advance in cholesterol management. Its first-in-class siRNA mechanism, twice-yearly dosing, and strong LDL-C reduction profile (~50%) make it a compelling option for patients with HeFH or ASCVD who haven't reached LDL-C goals on statins alone. The absence of significant drug interactions and the lack of muscle-related side effects make it especially valuable for statin-intolerant patients.
The main barriers to access are administrative — prior authorization requirements and the need to find a clinic that stocks and administers it. These hurdles are navigable with the right support. The Leqvio Service Center (1-833-537-8462), the Co-Pay Program for commercially insured patients, and the Novartis Patient Assistance Foundation for uninsured patients all help reduce barriers to access and cost.
If you've been prescribed Leqvio and need help finding a clinic near you that has it in stock, medfinder calls providers on your behalf and texts you the results — so you can focus on your health, not the logistics.
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Our medication guides are researched and written to help patients make informed decisions. All content is reviewed for accuracy and updated regularly. Learn more about our standards
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