A new experimental pill, enlicitide, significantly reduced LDL ("bad") cholesterol by about 60% in a large clinical trial.[1][2][3] The study included more than 2,900 patients at high risk of heart attack or atherosclerosis who were taking statins; two-thirds received enlicitide and the rest placebo.[1][2] After 24 weeks (6 months), LDL levels fell by 60% in the enlicitide group compared to placebo, and the effect persisted during the one-year follow-up.[1][2][3] The drug is an oral PCSK9 inhibitor that achieves an effect comparable to injection therapies.[1][3] Up to 70% of patients on statins do not reach cholesterol target values.[3] Enlicitide was developed by Merck (MSD) and has been granted a priority voucher for accelerated approval by the FDA.[1][2] So far, there is no proven connection with a lower number of heart attacks or deaths.[1]