Findings seen in adults with history of or risk for first atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease event<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter<\/b>
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THURSDAY, Feb. 5, 2026 (HealthDay News) — The oral proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9 inhibitor enlicitide yields significantly lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels than placebo among participants who have a history of or have a risk for a first atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease event, according to a study published in the Feb. 5 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine<\/em>.<\/p>\n Ann Marie Navar, M.D., Ph.D., from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, and colleagues conducted a trial involving adults with a history of a major atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease event with an LDL cholesterol level of 55 mg\/dL or higher and those who were at risk for a first atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease event with an LDL cholesterol level of 70 mg\/dL or higher. Participants were randomly assigned to receive enlicitide (20 mg) or placebo daily for 52 weeks (1,935 and 969 individuals, respectively).<\/p>\n The researchers found that the mean percent change in LDL cholesterol levels at week 24 was \u221257.1 and 3.0 percent with enlicitide and placebo, respectively, representing an adjusted between-group difference of \u221255.8 percentage points. Compared with placebo, significantly greater mean percent change in LDL cholesterol level at week 52, mean percent changes in non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein B levels at week 24, and percent change in lipoprotein(a) levels at week 24 were seen with enlicitide. There was no between-group difference observed in the incidence of adverse events.<\/p>\n “These reductions in LDL cholesterol are the most we have ever achieved with an oral drug by far since the development of statins,” Navar said in a statement.<\/p>\n Several authors disclosed ties to MSD, which manufactures enlicitide and funded the study.<\/p>\n Abstract\/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n