A new clinical trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine has revealed revolutionary results. An experimental pill called enlicitide reduced “bad” cholesterol (LDL) levels by up to 60%. This drug could be a turning point for millions of people, as it represents the first highly effective oral therapy developed since statins.
The drug’s formula is based on the Nobel Prize-winning discovery by Michael Brown and Joseph Goldstein regarding LDL receptors in liver cells. Enlicitide blocks the PCSK9 protein, which normally reduces the number of receptors on the liver. When PCSK9 is inhibited, the liver can clear significantly more “bad” cholesterol from the bloodstream.
Clinical Trial Details and Results:
The Phase 3 trial involved 2,909 patients. The study demonstrated that the experimental drug, enlicitide, reduced “bad” (LDL) cholesterol levels by a record-breaking 60%.
Notably, most of the study participants were already taking statins regularly; however, their average cholesterol levels remained high at 96 mg/dL, significantly exceeding the recommended range of 55-70 mg/dL for patients with atherosclerosis.
In addition to LDL, the drug effectively acted on other dangerous lipid markers, significantly reducing levels of apolipoprotein B and lipoprotein (a), both of which are considered additional risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease.
Why is this drug important?
Until now, PCSK9 inhibitors were only available as injections (such as evolocumab and alirocumab). Despite their effectiveness, doctors prescribed them infrequently due to their injectable form and high cost. Enlicitide, however, is a once-daily pill, making treatment far more accessible and convenient.
According to the study’s authors, this is the biggest leap in oral therapy since the introduction of statins. A separate study is currently underway to confirm how directly this reduction in cholesterol translates to a decrease in the incidence of heart attacks and strokes.
