{"id":619609,"date":"2026-08-04T08:48:15","date_gmt":"2026-08-04T08:48:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/619609\/"},"modified":"2026-08-04T08:48:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-04T08:48:15","slug":"lipfendra-vs-statins-how-these-cholesterol-lowering-drugs-compare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/619609\/","title":{"rendered":"Lipfendra vs statins: How these cholesterol-lowering drugs compare"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/getty_1706519578_header_1296x728-1024x575.jpg\" alt=\"close-up of pill in an outstretched palm\" class=\"css-bt1qz0\"\/><a class=\"icon-hl-pinterest css-o1zxgm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" data-event=\"Any Page|Image Pinterest Click|Icon Clicked\" data-element-event=\"OPEN|CONTENTBLOCK|Any Page|Article Body|BUTTON|Image Widget Pinterest Click|\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.medicalnewstoday.com%2Farticles%2Fhow-does-new-anti-cholesterol-pill-lipfendra-compare-statins-cardiologist-answers-5-key-questions&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.post.rvohealth.io%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F3%2F2026%2F08%2Fgetty_1706519578_header_1296x728-1024x575.jpg&amp;description=Lipfendra%20vs%20statins%3A%20How%20these%20cholesterol-lowering%20drugs%20compare\" title=\"Share on Pinterest\" data-pin-custom=\"true\" data-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/getty_1706519578_header_1296x728-1024x575.jpg\">Share on Pinterest<\/a>A cardiologist explains everything you need to know about Lipfendra, the newly FDA-approved cholesterol-lowering pill. Guido Mieth\/ Getty Images<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Lipfendra (enlicitide), a new oral treatment for high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) and heterozygous\u00a0familial hypercholesterolemia, on July 16, 2026.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Lipfendra is an oral\u00a0PCSK9 inhibitor that helps lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, commonly known as \u2018bad cholesterol.\u2019<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Medical News Today spoke to a cardiologist to find out how Lipfendra compares to statin treatment for high cholesterol, and answer other salient questions about this new treatment.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>On July 16, 2026, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/drugs\/news-events-human-drugs\/fda-approves-first-oral-therapy-inhibits-proprotein-convertase-subtilisinkexin-type-9-pcsk9-lower\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" class=\"content-link css-1h9c35y\">approved<\/a> Lipfendra (enlicitide), the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/new-cholesterol-pill-lipfendra-gets-fda-approval-2-experts-weigh-in\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" class=\"content-link css-1h9c35y\">first ever<\/a> oral <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK448100\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" class=\"content-link css-1h9c35y\">PCSK9 inhibitor<\/a>, for the treatment of high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) and heterozygous <a href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/familial-hypercholesterolemia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" class=\"content-link css-1h9c35y\">familial hypercholesterolemia<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.merck.com\/product\/usa\/pi_circulars\/l\/lipfendra\/lipfendra_pi.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" class=\"content-link css-1h9c35y\">Lipfendra<\/a> comes in pill form, and should be taken daily in 20 milligram (mg) doses. It works by reducing blood levels of low-density lipoprotein (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/ldl-cholesterol\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" class=\"content-link css-1h9c35y\">LDL<\/a>) cholesterol, or \u201cbad cholesterol.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But how does this new treatment compare to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/8274\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" class=\"content-link css-1h9c35y\">statins<\/a>, some of the most commonly used cholesterol-lowering drugs, and who is it the right choice for?<\/p>\n<p>To answer these, and other salient questions, Medical News Today reached out to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pacificheart.com\/rigved-tadwalkar-md\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" class=\"content-link css-1h9c35y\">Rigved Tadwalkar<\/a>, MD, FACC, a consultative cardiologist, and director of the Digital Transformation Pacific Heart Institute in Santa Monica, CA.<\/p>\n<p>How is Lipfendra different from statins?<\/p>\n<p>Most people may be familiar with statins, a type of cholesterol-lowering drugs taken by <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC10203693\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">millions of people<\/a> in the United States.<\/p>\n<p>They work by essentially \u201ctell[ing] the liver to make less cholesterol by blocking an enzyme called <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/gene\/3156\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">HMG-CoA reductase<\/a>,\u201d which is involved in cholesterol synthesis, Tadwalkar explained.<\/p>\n<p>By contrast, Lipfendra \u201cblocks PCSK9, a protein that causes the liver\u2019s LDL receptors to be broken down,\u201d he detailed.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"wp-block-healthline-quote-body\">\u201cWith more of those receptors available, the liver can pull more LDL cholesterol out of the bloodstream. We already know this mechanism from injectable PCSK9 treatments such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/repatha\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">evolocumab<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/praluent\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">alirocumab<\/a>. Lipfendra targets the same biological pathway, but delivers it in a once-daily pill rather than an injection.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u2013 Rigved Tadwalkar, MD, FACC<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> Is Lipfendra more effective at reducing LDL cholesterol than statins?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt can be,\u201d said Tadwalkar, \u201cdepending on what you are comparing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cIn the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.merck.com\/news\/mercks-lipfendra-enlicitide-is-the-first-and-only-once-daily-oral-pcsk9-inhibitor-approved-by-the-u-s-fda-to-reduce-ldl-c-in-adults-with-hypercholesterolemia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">pivotal trials<\/a>, Lipfendra lowered LDL cholesterol by about 56 to 59% compared with placebo, mostly in patients who were already taking statins. High-intensity statins generally lower LDL cholesterol by <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC10288954\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">at least 50%<\/a>, while moderate-intensity statins typically lower it by <a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC10125408\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">30 to 49%<\/a>,\u201d he told us.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Despite these encouraging results, the cardiologist cautioned that \u201cLipfendra was not tested head-to-head against a statin, so it would be misleading to simply call one better than the other.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He also pointed our that: \u201cStatins\u00a0\u200bhave decades of cardiovascular outcomes data behind them. Lipfendra has shown powerful LDL lowering [effects], while its own trial looking at heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular outcomes is still underway.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In Tadwalkar\u2019s view, the new LDL cholesterol lowering pill might bring the most benefits not on its own but \u201cas an additional option when a statin is not getting the LDL cholesterol low enough, or when the maximally tolerated statin dose is limited.\u201d<\/p>\n<p> Can Lipfendra be taken alongside statins and\/or other anti-cholesterol treatments?<\/p>\n<p>On that note, Tadwalkar emphasized tha Lipfendra can \u201cabsolutely\u201d be taken alongside other cholesterol-lowering medications when needed. In fact, he pointed out, \u201cthat is how [the drug] was largely studied.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"wp-block-healthline-quote-body\">\u201cMost participants [in the Lipfendra clinical trials] were already taking moderate- or high-intensity statin therapy, sometimes along with another cholesterol medication. Lipfendra could therefore be used with a statin, ezetimibe or another treatment when a patient needs more LDL lowering. It would still be used alongside a heart-healthy diet and regular exercise, not as a substitute for them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Rigved Tadwalkar, MD, FACC<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>However, he noted, \u201cI would not expect Lipfendra to be combined with an injectable PCSK9 inhibitor.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSince they target the same pathway, there is no established benefit to using them together, and patients taking another PCSK9 inhibitor were excluded from the pivotal trial,\u201d said the cardiologist.<\/p>\n<p> Who should explore with their doctor whether or not Lipfendra is the right treatment for them?<\/p>\n<p>In terms of who might want to consider whether Lipfendra is an appropriate treatment for them, and discuss that option with their healthcare prodvider, Tadwalkar advised that \u201cthe most obvious group is adults whose LDL cholesterol remains above an appropriate level despite their maximally tolerated statin.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This might mean different things for different people, he clarified: \u201cFor some people, the maximally tolerated dose is a high-intensity statin. For others, it is a lower dose, and for a smaller group it may be no statin at all after a thoughtful evaluation of prior symptoms and treatment attempts.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe conversation may be especially relevant for people who already have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.heart.org\/en\/professional\/quality-improvement\/ascvd\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease<\/a>, those at high risk of developing it, and people with a genetic form of high cholesterol called heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia,\u201d said Tadwalkar.<\/p>\n<p>Lipfendra may also be an appropriate alternative for those who would benefit from an injectable PCSK9 inhibitor but who would rather avoid this more invasive treatment, he added.<\/p>\n<p> Who is Lipfendra not for?<\/p>\n<p>Lipfendra could help a lot of people keep their cholesterol in check but it is definitely \u2014 at least for the time being \u2014 not an option for minors, said Tadwalkar.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe FDA label does not list any formal contraindications, but Lipfendra is approved only for adults, so its safety and effectiveness have not been established in children,\u201d he pointed out.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cPregnancy also deserves special attention,\u201d he emphasized. \u201cThe prescribing information advises stopping it when pregnancy is recognized unless the expected benefit is judged to outweigh the potential risk.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There is also something to be said about the very specific regimen this new treatment requires, and whether or not it may make it difficult to adhere to.<\/p>\n<p>Tadwalkar explained:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"wp-block-healthline-quote-body\">\u201cThe morning routine is important and may make the medication a poor fit for some people. It has to be taken on an empty stomach with water, black coffee or plain tea. The tablet must be swallowed whole, and the patient then needs to wait at least 30 minutes before eating or drinking anything else. That may sound like a small detail, but with a daily medicine, small details can determine whether someone actually takes it consistently.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Thus, he added, \u201cfor some patients, an established injectable PCSK9 inhibitor, typically given once every 2 weeks, may be a better fit.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Unlike Lipfendra, injectable PCSK9 inhibitors do \u201chave proven cardiovascular outcomes data, along with imaging evidence showing coronary plaque regression and more favorable plaque characteristics,\u201d the cardiologist noted.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, he noted, people should not be tempted to switch to a different medication just because it\u2019s newer. If you are \u201calready at an appropriate LDL level on a well-tolerated regimen,\u201d it may be best to stick to the known and proven approach, said Tadwalkar.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Share on PinterestA cardiologist explains everything you need to know about Lipfendra, the newly FDA-approved cholesterol-lowering pill. Guido&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":619610,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[274],"tags":[7229,18,135,19,17,250655,462,75635],"class_list":["post-619609","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-medication","tag-cholesterol","tag-eire","tag-health","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-lipfendra","tag-medication","tag-statins"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@ie\/117036378838562517","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/619609","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=619609"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/619609\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/619610"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=619609"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=619609"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=619609"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}