Merck's Oral Cholesterol Pill Gets FDA Nod

Merck has secured FDA approval for its oral cholesterol-lowering pill, Lipfendra (enlicitide), which marks a significant shift in the treatment of high LDL cholesterol. The drug is designed to block PCSK9, a protein that contributes to elevated cholesterol and cardiovascular disease.

Lipfendra will be available at a list price of $10.50 per day or around $315 per month. According to the American Heart Association, approximately one in four adults in the U.S. suffer from high LDL cholesterol.

With this approval, Lipfendra becomes the first oral treatment in its class, offering a potentially broader use of cholesterol medication among those at risk of heart disease.