FDA Approves a New Cholesterol Pill That Could Replace Injections

The FDA approved Lipfendra, a new Merck pill, on July 16, 2026. It lowers "bad" cholesterol by up to 59% when taken with existing cholesterol drugs. Earlier drugs in this class needed injections; a daily pill could make treatment far more common. Merck set the price above $300 per month, with availability expected within weeks.