Merck Gets US Approval for New Cholesterol Pill
Merck won approval from US health regulators for a new drug called Lipfendra. It is a daily pill for high cholesterol.
The drug is also called enlicitide. It belongs to a group of drugs called PCSK9 inhibitors.
These drugs help lower bad cholesterol known as LDL. Patients can take Lipfendra instead of statins or together with them.
Lipfendra is the first pill of its kind approved in the United States. Other companies like AstraZeneca are still working on similar pills.
Trials showed Lipfendra lowers cholesterol more than statins alone. The drug cut LDL cholesterol by 56% to 60% compared to a placebo.
Merck will price Lipfendra at $315 for a 30-day supply. That is cheaper than injectable competitors Repatha and Praluent. Those drugs cost $500 to $600 a month.
Key Terms 5
- FDA US government agency that approves medicines and food safety
- LDL cholesterol the bad type of cholesterol linked to heart disease
- PCSK9 inhibitor a type of drug that helps lower bad cholesterol
- statins common pills already used to lower cholesterol
- placebo a fake treatment used in trials for comparison