Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
November 08, 2025
Daily Pill Matches Injectables in Cutting Bad Cholesterol by 60%
TLDR
- Enlicitide offers a convenient oral alternative to injections, providing similar LDL reduction advantages for patients needing additional cholesterol control beyond statins.
- The oral medication enlicitide blocks PCSK9 protein binding to LDL receptors, reducing LDL cholesterol by up to 60% through daily dosing over 24 weeks.
- This daily pill could prevent heart attacks and strokes by making effective cholesterol treatment more accessible and convenient for high-risk patients worldwide.
- A new daily pill lowers bad cholesterol as effectively as injections while also reducing other heart disease markers like Lp(a) by 28%.
Impact - Why it Matters
This development matters because cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, and many patients struggle to achieve target cholesterol levels despite existing treatments. The availability of an oral medication that matches the effectiveness of injectable PCSK9 inhibitors could dramatically improve treatment adherence and accessibility for millions of people at risk of heart attacks and strokes. For patients who find injections inconvenient, intimidating, or difficult to administer, this represents a potential breakthrough in managing their cardiovascular health more comfortably while still achieving the same level of protection. This could significantly reduce the burden of cardiovascular events and improve quality of life for high-risk individuals who currently have limited options beyond injectable therapies.
Summary
At the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2025 in New Orleans, researchers presented groundbreaking findings about enlicitide, an investigational daily oral medication that could revolutionize cholesterol management for high-risk cardiovascular patients. The study, led by Dr. Ann Marie Navar from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, demonstrated that this oral PCSK9 inhibitor reduced LDL cholesterol by up to 60% - matching the effectiveness of current injectable PCSK9 inhibitors like alirocumab and evolocumab while offering the convenience of a daily pill. The CORALreef Lipids trial involved 2,912 adults with previous heart attack or stroke or at high cardiovascular risk, all of whom had elevated LDL levels despite standard treatments including statins.
The results showed dramatic improvements beyond just LDL reduction, with 53% reduction in non-HDL cholesterol, 50% reduction in ApoB protein, and 28% reduction in Lp(a) lipoprotein - all significant markers for cardiovascular risk. Importantly, 70% of participants taking enlicitide achieved LDL levels below 70 mg/dL with at least 50% reduction, and more than two-thirds reached levels below 55 mg/dL. The safety profile was comparable to placebo, with only 3% of participants discontinuing due to side effects. This represents a potential breakthrough for patients who struggle with injectable therapies or cannot achieve target cholesterol levels with current medications.
While these preliminary findings from the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions are promising, researchers emphasize that the ongoing CORALreef outcomes trial will determine whether these cholesterol reductions translate to reduced risk of actual heart attack and stroke events. The study represents a significant advancement in cardiovascular medicine, potentially offering millions of patients a more convenient yet equally effective alternative to manage their cholesterol and reduce cardiovascular risk through a simple daily pill rather than injections.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by NewMediaWire. Read the original source here, Daily Pill Matches Injectables in Cutting Bad Cholesterol by 60%
