Dr. Marc Siegel Discusses Merck's FDA Approval of New Oral Cholesterol Drug for Millions of Americans
Millions of Americans with high cholesterol now have access to a new, once-daily treatment option after the FDA approved Lipfendra, manufactured by Merck. The drug is an oral PCSK9 inhibitor designed to help manage high levels of LDL, or "bad," cholesterol. Dr. Marc Siegel, senior medical analyst at Fox News, detailed that Lipfendra works by blocking PCSK9, a protein that affects how the liver removes LDL from the bloodstream. When combined with existing statin therapy, the medication was shown in trials to reduce LDL cholesterol by an estimated 56% to 60%. Merck stated that the pill is intended as an addition to diet and other treatments for adults with elevated cholesterol. Previously, PCSK9 inhibitors were only available through injections, a limitation that experts noted may have slowed adoption. Dr. Marc Siegel noted that the oral form represents a significant convenience improvement over prior injectable options. While the drug was reported as generally well-tolerated, additional research is planned to determine if it reduces the risk of heart attacks or strokes.