NEW ORLEANS — A pill designed to further lower cholesterol in people already on statins but at risk of a serious cardiovascular event — their first or a recurrence — reduced LDL cholesterol by up to 60%, a new late-stage trial presented here Saturday has found. Two-thirds of patients cut their cholesterol by at least half.
The trial fulfills a longtime goal of Merck: to make a pill that achieves LDL cholesterol reductions on par with those obtained with injected monoclonal antibodies.
Enlicitide, Merck’s oral, once-daily PCSK9 inhibitor, was tested against a placebo in a Phase 3 clinical trial that enrolled 2,900 people with high levels of LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol. The participants had experienced or were at risk of a major cardiovascular problem because of predispositions such as excess weight, obesity, or diabetes. The list of serious conditions included coronary heart disease, a heart attack, or a stroke as well as peripheral artery disease.
STAT+ Exclusive Story
Already have an account? Log in
This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers
Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and news alerts.
Already have an account? Log in
Individual plans
Group plans
View All Plans
To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+.
Subscribe
