A Phase 3 trial presented in New Orleans found Merck’s oral PCSK9 inhibitor produced LDL reductions up to 60% versus placebo in patients already on statins, meeting its primary endpoints across roughly 2,900 participants. The company reported two‑thirds of patients achieved at least a 50% LDL cut, figures that approach reductions seen with injectable PCSK9 antibodies. The data mark a milestone for oral lipid‑lowering therapies and advance Merck’s aim to compete with long‑standing injectables. The trial enrolled high‑risk patients with established or elevated risk for cardiovascular events, and the results were positioned as fulfilling a strategic company objective to deliver an oral alternative to monoclonal antibodies.