FDA Approves First Oral PCSK9 Cholesterol Drug Lipfendra
The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday, July 16, 2026 approved Lipfendra, an oral PCSK9 cholesterol pill intended to sharply lower low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, cholesterol.[1]
Clinical trial results tied to the approval show the pill reduced LDL by nearly 60% in studies.[1] CBS Evening News described Lipfendra as a once-daily, non-statin medicine that acts by a different biological mechanism than statins and said it "may deliver better results for some people." CBS News
On Thursday, July 16, 2026 at 7:42 PM Central, CBS Evening News aired an interview with Columbia University cardiologist Dr. Corey Bradley about the newly approved drug.[2] Bradley explained how the pill works differently from statins and emphasized its likely role as an add-on or alternative for patients who do not respond to or cannot tolerate statins.[2]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Thursday, July 16, 2026 at 7:42 PM Central, CBS Evening News aired an interview with Columbia University cardiologist Dr. Corey Bradley about the newly approved cholesterol pill.
- In the interview, Dr. Corey Bradley explained how the newly approved daily cholesterol pill works differently from statins.
- The segment described the medicine as a once-daily, non-statin pill that operates via a different mechanism while still targeting LDL cholesterol reduction.
- CBS highlighted that the pill 'may deliver better results for some people' than popular statins.
- The piece emphasized the pill's potential role as an add-on or alternative for patients who do not respond adequately to or tolerate statins.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- On Thursday, July 16, 2026, CBS Evening News aired an interview with Columbia University cardiologist Dr. Corey Bradley explaining how the newly approved daily cholesterol pill works differently from statins and for whom it may offer better results.
- The CBS segment emphasizes that the pill 'may deliver better results for some people' than popular statins, underscoring its potential role as an add-on or alternative for patients who do not respond adequately or tolerate statins well.
- The piece frames the drug in lay terms as a once-daily, non-statin pill, reinforcing that it operates via a different mechanism than traditional statins while still targeting LDL cholesterol reduction.