A newly approved cholesterol-lowering pill could offer millions of people a more convenient way to dramatically reduce "bad" LDL cholesterol, especially those who can't tolerate statins or whose cholesterol remains high despite treatment.
The Food and Drug Administration recently approved enlicitide (Lipfendra), the first oral PCSK9 inhibitor, which Merck says can lower LDL cholesterol by nearly 60%. While injectable PCSK9 inhibitors have been available for several years, the new once-daily pill could make the highly effective therapy easier for many patients to use, at a lower price.
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Renowned cardiologist Dr. Chauncey Crandall called the approval a major advance in cholesterol treatment.
"This is a new drug,” Crandall, director of preventive medicine at the Palm Beach Cardiovascular Clinic in Florida, told Newsmax’s “Bianca Across the Nation.”
"The injectable form of this PCSK9 inhibitor has had dramatic changes in the way we treat elevated cholesterol and heart disease. So now we have it in a pill form," he explained.
Although he noted that not all of the clinical data have been released, Crandall said the outlook is encouraging.
"All the information isn't out, but it's very promising," he said. "It's a great drug that we can give to lower cholesterol dramatically by 50% to 60%."
An Option Beyond Statins
Statins remain the first-line treatment for lowering cholesterol, but some people cannot tolerate them because of side effects, while others need additional treatment to reach healthy LDL levels.
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"For those people that are intolerant to statins or those people that have resistant elevated cholesterol on statin therapy, this is the next line of treatment," said Crandall, who is also editor of the popular newsletter Dr. Crandall's Heart Health Report. "It's in pill form, and I believe it's going to be a big change, a big game changer for everything out there in cardiology."
Researchers are also studying whether the pill can reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes, although more research is needed to confirm those benefits.
"The injectable form has been a dramatic change," Crandall said. "Based on my experience, everyone that is on the injectable form of a similar drug, I have not seen one heart attack in any of those patients. So, it is my go-to drug for people with advanced heart disease."
Wildfire Smoke Poses Health Risks
Crandall also warned about the health dangers posed by wildfire smoke drifting across parts of the Midwest and Northeast from Canadian wildfires.
The biggest concern, he said, is for people with chronic lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, and chronic bronchitis.
"These are invisible particles and chemicals. These are irritants," Crandall said. "With people that have underlying lung issues — COPD, emphysema, chronic bronchitis or other lung issues — these particles get deep within the lungs."
The smoke can trigger inflammation and breathing problems serious enough to require emergency care.
Crandall recommends that people with chronic lung conditions remain indoors in an air-conditioned environment until air quality improves.
"People with these special lung conditions need to stay in an air-conditioned place until the air clears up, and it will clear up," he said. "People need to understand that these are invisible particles, invisible chemicals that get deep into your lung and cause damage and irritation."