Many people with high cholesterol are treated with statins, but some do not achieve sufficient results.
Researchers are therefore continuing to develop new treatment options, according to HealthDay.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said the approval is based on two clinical trials involving a total of 3,207 adults who were already taking the highest dose of statins they could tolerate.
Studies show strong results
In one trial, participants' LDL cholesterol levels fell by 56 percent after 24 weeks of treatment.
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In the second trial, which included people with inherited high cholesterol, LDL cholesterol levels declined by 59 percent.
The FDA also said that side effects were generally comparable to those seen with a placebo.
However, in the trial involving people with inherited high cholesterol, diarrhea and dizziness were reported slightly more frequently.
First tablet of its kind
The FDA has approved the drug Lipfendra. It is the first tablet designed to inhibit the PCSK9 protein, which affects the body's ability to remove LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream.
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According to The New York Times, the treatment costs $315 for a one-month supply.
Existing PCSK9 treatments are administered by injection and typically cost between $500 and $600 per month.
The drug has been approved for adults with high cholesterol as well as people with the inherited condition familial hypercholesterolemia.
Researchers are continuing to investigate whether the tablet can also reduce the risk of blood clots and other serious cardiovascular diseases.
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