Oral PCSK9 Inhibitor Enlicitide Achieves LDL-C Reduction Comparable to Injectable Therapies
Oral PCSK9 Inhibitor Enlicitide Achieves LDL-C Reduction Comparable to Injectable Therapies
• Enlicitide is an experimental oral PCSK9 inhibitor from Merck that achieved ~57% LDL-C reduction at 24 weeks in a large trial (~3,000 patients), including patients who were statin-intolerant or on background statin therapy.
• LDL lowering was sustained at 1 year, with improvements in ApoB and Lp(a).
• Well tolerated, with no excess adverse events or diabetes signal.
• Represents the largest LDL-C reduction ever reported with an oral agent since statins.
• The observed LDL-C reduction (~57%) is of a magnitude comparable to that reported with parenteral PCSK9 inhibitors, while cardiovascular outcomes data are still pending.
• Not yet approved anywhere; cardiovascular outcomes trials are ongoing with possible approvals later in 2026.
• Published in The New England Journal of Medicine (4 February 2026).