Merck reported Phase 3 data showing its oral PCSK9 inhibitor, enlicitide, reduced LDL cholesterol by up to 60% versus placebo. The trial enrolled about 2,900 patients at high cardiovascular risk and two-thirds achieved at least a 50% LDL reduction, according to STAT’s coverage of the AHA presentations. The result meets a longstanding industry objective to match injectable PCSK9 monoclonal antibodies with a daily pill. The trial’s size and magnitude of effect position an oral PCSK9 as a potential game-changer for chronic lipid management and could shift prescribing patterns if regulators sign off. PCSK9 inhibitors lower LDL by blocking a protein that degrades LDL receptors, increasing cholesterol clearance—an established mechanism validated by injectable drugs.