A recent oral medication, enlicitide, significantly reduces levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), often referred to as “bad” cholesterol, according to results published in the New England Journal of Medicine on February 5, 2026.
The placebo-controlled trial, led by Ann Marie Navar of the University of Missouri-Kansas City and involving a multinational group of researchers, assessed the efficacy and safety of enlicitide in patients with hypercholesterolemia. The study involved 1,440 participants and demonstrated a substantial reduction in LDL-C compared to a placebo group. Specifically, patients receiving enlicitide experienced a 55% reduction in LDL-C levels.
Enlicitide functions as a PCSK9 inhibitor, a class of drugs that have previously required administration via injection. This trial marks a significant step forward as enlicitide is an oral formulation, potentially increasing patient adherence and accessibility. PCSK9, or proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9, is a protein that prevents the liver from removing LDL-C from the blood. Inhibiting PCSK9 allows the liver to clear more LDL-C, thereby lowering cholesterol levels.
The research team included Alberico L. Catapano from the University of Milan, Puja Banka from the University of Ottawa, and Kazuhisa Tsukamoto from Kyoto University. The trial was conducted across multiple sites in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan. Researchers monitored participants for a period of 12 weeks, assessing both the efficacy of enlicitide in lowering LDL-C and any potential adverse effects.
While the study demonstrated a clear benefit in LDL-C reduction, the full scope of long-term cardiovascular outcomes associated with enlicitide remains to be determined. Further research is planned to evaluate the impact of the drug on major adverse cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke. The study, published with DOI: 10.1056/nejmoa2511002, does not yet detail the pricing or availability of enlicitide, leaving questions about its potential impact on healthcare costs unanswered.
The February 5, 2026 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine also featured research on the evolving role of beta-blockers following myocardial infarction with normal ejection fraction, and a perspective piece examining the corporatization of U.S. Health care. A separate article detailed the complexities of diagnosing “collision lesions,” where two distinct skin conditions occur simultaneously, highlighting the importance of dermatopathology.
