Merck Cholesterol Pill

The FDA approved Merck's first-of-its-kind pill for high-risk cholesterol patients.

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FDA approves cholesterol pill from Merck

Drugmaker Merck announces approval of new cholesterol-fighting drug

The cholesterol shot you couldn’t afford is now a pill | Fortune

Summary

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The FDA approved Merck’s Lipfendra, making it the first once-daily oral PCSK9 inhibitor for lowering LDL cholesterol. The pill is authorized for people with hypercholesterolemia whose artery-clogging cholesterol remains high despite statins, the standard drugs used to lower heart-attack risk. PCSK9 inhibitors block a protein that limits the liver’s removal of LDL from the blood, a treatment approach previously available only as injections. In trials cited by Merck, Lipfendra cut LDL by nearly 60%, comparable to injectable PCSK9 drugs.

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