There’s something strangely familiar about those routine health checkups where you promise yourself you’ll “take cholesterol more seriously this time.”
Most of us know the feeling of seeing numbers creep upward, even when we’re doing our best to eat better or move more.
And for many, the idea of adding yet another injection or complicated treatment can feel overwhelming — especially if high cholesterol runs in the family.
A simpler approach for people who struggle to reach healthy levels
Across the world, researchers have been working on treatments that fit more naturally into everyday routines.
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One of the most promising developments comes from a large international study of an experimental pill called Enlicitide — a tablet designed for people whose cholesterol stays high despite existing medication.
The research included adults diagnosed with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, a genetic condition that pushes LDL (“bad”) cholesterol to dangerous levels from an early age.
Participants were already on lipid-lowering therapies, but many still couldn’t reach safe targets.
The numbers that caught researchers’ attention
The group receiving Enlicitide once daily saw steep reductions in harmful fats over the course of the year. According to the study published in JAMA, the pill led to:
- About 58 percent lower LDL after 24 weeks, stabilizing near 55 percent after a year
- A 52 percent reduction in non-HDL cholesterol
- A 48 percent drop in apolipoprotein B
- Nearly 25 percent lower lipoprotein(a)
These are levels typically achieved only with injectable PCSK9 blockers — making a daily pill an attractive alternative for many patients.
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What scientists still need to understand
The trial did not yet examine whether the pill reduces heart attacks, strokes or long-term mortality, and researchers emphasize that larger outcome studies are underway.
The medication was tested only in people with a specific genetic condition, so its effect in those with common high cholesterol is still unknown.
For now, the findings point to a future where managing inherited cholesterol disorders may be easier — and far more accessible — than before.
The article is based on information from Fox News Digital og JAMA
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