A new daily pill, Enlicitide, developed by Merck, has demonstrated a significant reduction in ‘bad’ cholesterol levels by over 50% in a one-year clinical trial, offering hope for the prevention of heart disease. The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), found that participants with a genetic condition known as heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) experienced a dramatic drop in LDL cholesterol, which is a key risk factor for cardiovascular issues.
The trial, led by Dr. Christie M. Ballantyne of the Texas Heart Institute, involved 303 adults who had been diagnosed with HeFH, a condition that makes it particularly difficult to manage cholesterol levels even with existing treatments. All participants were already on other lipid-lowering therapies, yet their cholesterol levels remained above the target range. Researchers randomly assigned them to either take Enlicitide or a placebo pill over a 52-week period. The results showed that participants taking Enlicitide experienced a 58% reduction in LDL levels by week 24, and this effect was maintained for the full year, with a nearly 55% reduction in average LDL levels.
Other cardiovascular markers also improved significantly, with non-HDL cholesterol dropping by 52%, apolipoprotein B falling by 48%, and lipoprotein(a) lessening by nearly 25%. Only 3% of participants dropped out of the study, and the side effects reported were generally mild and temporary, such as headaches and cold-like symptoms. The study’s findings suggest that Enlicitide could offer a more convenient and effective alternative to the currently available injectable PCSK9 inhibitors, which are administered every few weeks.
However, researchers emphasized that the study focused on cholesterol levels and not on whether the pill reduces the risk of heart attacks, strokes, or deaths. Further, ongoing studies are necessary to determine the long-term benefits and safety of the drug. The trial participants had HeFH and were already on other cholesterol-lowering treatments, so the drug’s effectiveness in people with more common forms of high cholesterol remains uncertain. Additionally, since the study duration was limited to one year, the long-term effects of Enlicitide have not yet been fully established.
Merck, the manufacturer of Enlicitide, was contacted by Fox News Digital for comment, but no statement has been released yet. While the results of this study are promising for individuals with HeFH, the drug’s broader applicability and long-term impact on public health will depend on the outcomes of future trials and regulatory approvals.