Enlicitide (Lipfendra) – An Oral PCSK9 Inhibitor for LDL-Cholesterol Lowering

Enlicitide (Lipfendra – Merck), an oral proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor, has been approved by the FDA to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in adults with hypercholesterolemia, including heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH). It is the first oral PCSK9 inhibitor to be approved in the US; the other FDA-approved PCSK9 inhibitors (alirocumab [Praluent], evolocumab [Repatha], and lerodalcibep [Lerochol]) and the PCSK9-directed small interfering RNA inclisiran (Leqvio) are injected subcutaneously.1 Lipfendra was approved under the Commissioner's National Priority Voucher program, which accelerates the FDA review process for drugs that align with critical national health priorities.