Karachi: A new once daily pill being developed by Merck has shown it can reduce harmful cholesterol by almost 60 percent in late stage trials, raising hopes that patients who need strong cholesterol lowering treatment may soon have an oral option instead of injections.
The medicine, called enlicitide, works by blocking the PCSK9 protein in the liver. When this protein is blocked, the liver can keep more LDL receptors active, which helps clear “bad” LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream far more effectively. Doctors say the drug delivers benefits similar to current PCSK9 injections but in a simple tablet form.
In clinical studies, people with very high cholesterol, including those with familial hypercholesterolemia, saw major and sustained reductions even though they were already using statins and other medicines. Many patients achieved both a 50 percent drop in LDL and target levels linked to better heart protection. Reported side effects so far have been mild.
If approved, enlicitide would become the first oral PCSK9 inhibitor. At present, all PCSK9 therapies are injectables that need to be taken every few weeks or months. A pill could make long term treatment easier and help more patients reach safer cholesterol levels.
Experts say the early results are encouraging but caution that longer outcome studies are still needed to show whether the pill can also reduce heart attacks and deaths. Merck plans to move toward regulatory submission after completing its ongoing trials.