Merck Cholesterol Pill
The FDA approved Merck's first-of-its-kind pill for high-risk cholesterol patients.
July 16, 2026 · Updated Jul 16, 6:54pm ET
The GuardianDrugmaker Merck announces approval of new cholesterol-fighting drug
SemaforFDA approves cholesterol pill from Merck
New York PostFDA signs off on Merck’s cholesterol-lowering pill — the first oral treatment of its kind
Chicago Sun-TimesNew cholesterol-busting pill, costly but powerful, gets FDA's OK
FOX NewsGame-changing cholesterol pill wins FDA approval after cutting LDL nearly 60%
ABC NewsFDA approves a first-of-its-kind pill to cut cholesterol in high-risk patients
NBC NewsFDA approves new kind of cholesterol pill
FortuneThe cholesterol shot you couldn’t afford is now a pill
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What happened
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.
