Originally published on 11/12/25

Big news for those concerned about their heart health: Pharmaceutical company Merck has created a new pill called enlicitide, which promises to lower “bad” cholesterol as effectively as injectable medications.

This could be big news for anyone taking cholesterol-lowering injections like PCSK9 inhibitors—usually prescribed when healthy habits and popular drugs like statins haven’t worked well enough. To find out how this new cholesterol pill could help you, keep reading.

“This medication is set to be another powerful addition to the treatments we currently have”

Merck’s cholesterol pill delivered impressive results

According to the study, participants who either had or were at risk of a cardiovascular event who took the enlicitide oral pill daily for 24 weeks experienced:

• Up to a 60 percent reduction in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol 
• 53 percent reduction in non-HDL cholesterol (a combination of all types of cholesterol except “good” HDL)
• 50 percent reduction in ApoB, a protein that carries “bad” cholesterol through the blood  
• 28 percent reduction in Lp(a), a blood fat similar to LDL. 

“This oral medication is set to be another powerful addition to the treatments we currently have to lower LDL cholesterol and hopefully prevent cardiovascular events,” lead study author Ann Marie Navar, MD, PhD, FAHA, said in a statement. (Discover what a healthy cholesterol level is for your age.)

What the new pill means for those with high cholesterol 

“This oral option may help improve adherence [a patient’s ability to stick with a prescribed treatment plan], since the [PCSK9] drug [used to manage high cholesterol] is currently only available through injection,” explains Michelle Routhenstein, MS, RD, CDCES, CDN, a preventive cardiology dietitian and certified diabetes educator. 

“This drug may be helpful for some, in combination with nutrition therapy, because it increases LDL receptor activity, which helps lower apoB, LDL and non-HDL cholesterol—all types of cholesterol that contribute to plaque buildup in the arteries,” she continued. “This drug may be helpful for those who need to be on cholesterol-lowering medications, but are statin intolerant or who have persistently high cholesterol.

“It is also important to note that preliminary data is compelling, but the long-term outcomes are currently unknown. Like all lipid-lowering drugs, it needs to be considered alongside diet, exercise and full risk factor management—not as a standalone cure.” (Check out our round-up of foods that lower cholesterol naturally.)

“This drug may be helpful for those who need to be on cholesterol-lowering medications, but are statin intolerant or who have persistently high cholesterol”

When will the new cholesterol pill be available?

The clinical trial findings were presented at an American Heart Association meeting, but have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal. The pharmaceutical company plans to apply for approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) early next year, Puja Banka, MD, associate vice president of clinical research and global clinical development at Merck Research Laboratories, told CNN.

What women over 50 need to know about high cholesterol 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 32 percent of women ages 40 and up were diagnosed with high cholesterol between August 2021 and August 2023 alone. And many more likely have elevated levels without even realizing it. “High cholesterol typically does not cause noticeable symptoms and can quietly lead to plaque buildup in the arteries, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes,” Dr. Routhenstein explains. 

32% of women ages 40 and up were diagnosed with high cholesterol

“That is why it is so important for women to be doing full, comprehensive blood work to address cardiometabolic risk factors early to prevent heart disease,” she continued. “In rare cases, extremely high cholesterol levels can cause xanthomas, which are yellowish deposits of cholesterol that appear on the skin, often around the elbows, knees, hands or eyelids.” (Discover more eye changes that can signal underlying health issues.)

“For women over 50 who face increased cardiovascular risk and see a rise in their cholesterol levels, routine screening, targeted lifestyle changes and individualized medical therapy remain essential”

How to lower your cholesterol naturally

Since enlicitide is not yet FDA-approved, those of us with high cholesterol must manage our levels through lifestyle changes and any doctor-prescribed medications. In terms of daily habits that make a difference, Dr. Routhenstein recommends “honing into a heart-healthy diet, adding in consistent exercise, managing stress, optimizing sleep, abstaining from smoking and drugs and improving mental health.” 

She also notes that “While enlicitide may offer an oral alternative for cholesterol lowering, for women over 50 who face increased cardiovascular risk and see a rise in their cholesterol levels, routine screening, targeted lifestyle changes and individualized medical therapy remain essential for optimal cholesterol management and heart health.”

Link to original: https://www.womansworld.com/wellness/heart-health/new-cholesterol-pill-lowers-ldl-how-it-could-help-women-50-plus