A Pill Could Do Major Damage to ‘Bad’ Cholesterol
Stock photo of pill medication. (Getty Images/smartstock)
Merck has announced a major medical breakthrough — a new pill that dramatically lowers “bad” LDL cholesterol by as much as 60% in many patients, according to STAT News. The once-daily medication, called enlicitide, could greatly reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes for millions of people.
Enlicitide works by targeting a liver protein called PCSK9, which slows the body’s ability to clear cholesterol. By blocking PCSK9, the drug enables the body to flush out excess LDL cholesterol more efficiently. The results rival the cholesterol-lowering effects of biweekly or monthly injections of PCSK9 antibodies — but in an easy-to-take pill form, the New York Times reports.
At the American Heart Association conference on Saturday, Merck shared data from a 24-week trial involving nearly 3,000 high-risk patients. The study found that enlicitide cut LDL levels by up to 60%, with no increase in side effects compared to a placebo. Patients saw significant improvements within the first year.
This development could transform treatment for the roughly 6 million Americans eligible for PCSK9 inhibitors. Currently, fewer than 1% use the injectable drugs such as Praluent or Repatha, due in part to their high cost (over $500 per month) and the inconvenience of regular shots. Merck aims to make enlicitide affordable and simple to use, with its research president, Dean Li, describing it as potentially “no different than aspirin” and a “game changer” for public health.
Developing a PCSK9 pill was long thought impossible, since the protein’s shape made it difficult for small molecules to attach effectively. Merck’s scientists overcame that challenge by creating a ring of peptides — larger than typical pill-based compounds — capable of binding to PCSK9. That innovation could pave the way for oral versions of other medications currently available only as injections.
Merck plans to continue testing enlicitide and seek FDA approval early next year. Rival drugmaker AstraZeneca is also pursuing a PCSK9 pill, signaling the start of a new era in cholesterol treatment.
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