New cholesterol treatment could be 'game changer' for Spokane, says MultiCare cardiologist - The Spokesman-Review

What the report says

The Spokesman-Review reports that the FDA has approved Lipfendra, a daily cholesterol pill made by Merck, in a decision that some heart specialists say could alter routine treatment for high cholesterol. The article cites CDC figures estimating that more than 86 million Americans have cholesterol levels considered too high, with fewer than half receiving treatment. Spokane cardiologist Dr. Adam Noyes of MultiCare Pulse Heart Institute told the paper he expects to use the drug broadly once it becomes available in the coming months.

According to the report, Lipfendra lowered unwanted cholesterol by about 50% to 60% in clinical trials and is expected to be used often alongside statins, the standard first-line therapy. Cardiologist Norman Lepor, director of the National Heart Institute and a study investigator, described the drug as a PCSK9 inhibitor, meaning it helps prevent an enzyme from interfering with liver receptors that remove cholesterol from the blood. The 24-week study cited by the paper found an average 60% reduction when the drug was paired with statins, with dizziness and diarrhea listed as possible side effects and overall side-effect rates similar to placebo.

The development matters because high cholesterol can build plaque in arteries over many years, raising the risk of heart attack and stroke while often producing no symptoms. The Spokesman-Review notes that injectable PCSK9 treatments have existed for years but can be costly and difficult for patients to manage. Merck told the paper the oral version should be available within weeks and will cost $315 per month out of pocket, compared with $500 to $600 monthly for the injectable form.