Eli Lilly has developed a cholesterol-lowering pill called muvalaplin that has shown promising results in mid-stage clinical trials.
This treatment targets lipoprotein(a) or Lp(a), a genetic risk factor for heart disease that affects around 63 million Americans.
Muvalaplin is an oral solution, unlike traditional cholesterol management strategies that require injectable therapies.
Mid-stage trial data presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions showed that muvalaplin led to a significant reduction in Lp(a) levels.
The highest dose resulted in a 70% reduction based on traditional blood tests and an 86% reduction based on a new testing method developed by Eli Lilly.
The drug demonstrated a good safety profile, and Eli Lilly is preparing to engage with the FDA for the next steps, including a phase three trial.
The potential of muvalaplin to reduce cardiovascular events could be substantial, and it may compete with other injectable therapies currently in development.
Eli Lilly is not the only company working on treatments for elevated Lp(a) levels, as Novartis and Amgen are also developing injectable therapies.
The introduction of muvalaplin could reshape the landscape of cholesterol management by offering a more convenient and potentially effective option for patients.
The outcomes of future trials will determine the drug"s place in the market.