On Thursday, the FDA approved a new daily pill that lowers cholesterol, potentially decreasing the risk of adverse events such as heart attacks or strokes.
Lipfendra, developed by the pharmaceutical company Merck, can significantly reduce LDL — a type of “bad” cholesterol that can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke — by 56% when compared to placebo at 24 weeks. Clinical trials involving 2,912 people showed the drug can lower LDL levels by 60% with “no difference in side effects between the drug and a placebo” — suggesting a similar success rate to injectable drugs aimed at reducing LDL, according to the New York Times.
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