Merck has received FDA approval for Lipfendra, a first-of-its-kind daily pill designed to treat high LDL, or bad cholesterol. A PCSK9 inhibitor, the medication has been hailed as a breakthrough in cholesterol management.
For decades, statins have been the most prescribed medication in the US for treating high cholesterol. However, statins can occasionally cause side effects such as muscle aches and may not lower cholesterol levels sufficiently to meet recommended levels. Lipfendra can be used as an alternative to statins or in conjunction with them, specifically for patients whose artery-clogging cholesterol remains high despite statin use.
Clinical trials have shown that these new pills can lower cholesterol levels far below what can be achieved with statins. By providing an easier-to-take medicine that rivals powerful injections, Merck aims to find more success with high-risk patients combating the leading cause of death in the world.