New daily pill may cut bad cholesterol by 60%, offering new hope for heart health

A new once-a-day pill could reduce “bad” cholesterol (LDL-C) by up to 60%, offering a simpler way to protect heart health. (Image: Pexels)

There is a new hope for people worldwide struggling to manage cholesterol levels. Researchers have found that a new once-a-day pill could reduce levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) — often called “bad” cholesterol — by as much as 60%, marking a potential shift in heart disease prevention.

An international clinical trial led by researchers from the United States and Europe tested the pill, called Enlicitide, which targets a liver protein known as PCSK9. It limits the body's ability to remove LDL cholesterol from the blood, and the new drug blocks the PCSK9 protein. This helps the liver clear out excess cholesterol more efficiently.

The Phase 3 trial included nearly 3,000 adults aged 40 to 75 across 14 countries. Participants already taking statins — the current gold standard for cholesterol management — were given either Enlicitide or a placebo. After 24 weeks, those on the new pill saw LDL levels drop by up to 60%, a reduction similar to that achieved by injectable PCSK9 inhibitors like Evolocumab and Alirocumab. The treatment also lowered other lipid markers such as non-HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B.

Heart disease is still the number one killer worldwide, and high LDL cholesterol plays a big role in this. PCSK9 inhibitor shots work well, but they cost a lot and aren't easy to use, so not many people can get them. A pill you take every day could make it easier for more people to get and stick with advanced cholesterol-lowering treatment.

Experts, however, caution that it’s too early to celebrate. While lowering LDL is promising, what really matters is whether it prevents heart attacks and strokes, experts caution. Longer-term studies are underway to evaluate whether this pill can reduce cardiovascular events.

We still don't know about the cost long-term safety, and how easy it will be to get. For now, doctors say that statins, eating right, working out , and keeping a healthy weight are still the best ways to keep your heart healthy.

If this pill turns out to be safe and does its job, it could shake up how we deal with cholesterol — making it as easy as taking a tablet to protect your heart in a big way.