New, more efficient pill to lower cholesterol
The FDA has approved Lipfendra, a new oral medication designed to lower LDL cholesterol. It offers a more convenient alternative to existing injectable treatments.
Why it matters
Improving patient compliance with cholesterol medication can significantly reduce the incidence of strokes and heart attacks.
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last Thursday approved a new daily pill that lowers levels of dangerous cholesterol.
The pill is expected to boost compliance rates compared to previously used medications, according to the news release from the University of Maryland Medical System.
About a quarter of adults in the US have high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, putting them at higher risks of strokes and heart attacks, according to the release.
Lipfendra is the first oral drug to block bad cholesterol production – blockers were originally available only in injectable form.
“People don’t want to give themselves shots,” University of Maryland Medical System cardiologist Scott Jerome said.
“When you make something easy for people, they’re going to do it.”
The injectable shot is the most efficient cholesterol therapy, outweighing all other medications.
The new pill has the same efficiency in a simpler format, Jerome added.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in