We’re beating heart disease

Key Points:

• The FDA has approved enlicitide, a once-daily oral pill that lowers LDL cholesterol by nearly 60%, matching the efficacy of the strongest injectable cholesterol drugs but without the need for injections.
• Enlicitide is particularly beneficial for patients who cannot tolerate statins or do not achieve sufficient LDL reduction with them, offering a needle-free alternative that reduces muscle ache side effects.
• The discovery of the PCSK9 gene mutation, which naturally lowers LDL and heart disease risk, inspired the development of PCSK9-targeting drugs like enlicitide and emerging gene-editing therapies aimed at long-term cholesterol control.
• Gene editing treatments, such as those by Verve Therapeutics, show promise in providing a one-time, potentially lifelong LDL reduction by permanently disabling the PCSK9 gene, addressing medication adherence challenges.
• Despite advances, heart disease remains widespread and complex, with rising obesity and related conditions offsetting some progress; access and affordability of new therapies like enlicitide remain significant hurdles to broad impact.