This research could lead to new options for people at risk of heart attack or stroke.
February 23, 2026
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Taking care of yourself and staying healthy is especially important, and eating right is a big part of that. So does staying on top of rarely-noticed health conditions that are easily detected through physical exams and simple blood tests.
High cholesterol is one of these symptoms, but it can usually be treated with statins such as Lipitor and Crestor, which block the production of cholesterol. science alert. For many people, statins are not enough to lower LDL (bad cholesterol). Oral PCSK9 inhibitors currently being tested The pill, named Ensitide, offers an easy-to-use treatment for people at risk of heart disease and stroke.
Because heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, High LDT cholesterol Substances that cause plaque buildup in the arteries contribute to it, and this new study It will be conducted at UT Southwestern Medical Center and New England Medical Journal Giving hope to millions of people.
About research
Current treatments for people who need more than statins are injectable PCSK9 inhibitors, which are expensive and difficult to use. That’s why this research is so important.
More than 2,909 high-risk individuals participated in the study. Associated Press Reported. In this blinded study, half of the participants were assigned to take Enciside tablets or a placebo daily as standard treatment.
“The study population reflects what we see in clinical practice,” Dr. Ann Marie Navar, a cardiologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, told The Associated Press. “Even the highest-strength statins are often not enough to help people reach their cholesterol goals.”
Participants who took Ensitide showed a 60 percent reduction in cholesterol over six months.
There are other tablets available, but “nothing comes close to the degree of LDL cholesterol reduction seen with ensitide,” Navarre said.
practicality
Merck Sharp & Dahmé, a subsidiary of Merck, is funding the research and is seeking FDA approval. Enlicitide has been added to the program for ultra-fast reviews.
However, this study did not include data that lowering cholesterol leads to a lower risk of heart attack or heart attack. stroke. It will take time to prove that. Merck is currently working on a study involving more than 14,000 participants to obtain data.
Although this treatment has not yet been approved, it shows promise as an effective and painless way to treat high cholesterol. but healthy eatingexercising and seeing your doctor regularly ensure that prevention is the best medicine.
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