Day 1 · New study published
A cholesterol-lowering tablet that works like the PCSK9 injections
Evidence: large randomised trial measuring cholesterol levels
What is new: The New England Journal of Medicine published the CORALreef Lipids trial of enlicitide, a tablet taken once a day. 2,909 adults who had heart or circulation disease, or were at risk of it, took enlicitide or a dummy tablet (placebo). At 24 weeks, LDL ("bad") cholesterol fell by 57.1% on enlicitide and rose by 3.0% on placebo. Side effects did not appear to differ between the groups.
Context: Medicines in this family (PCSK9 inhibitors) have until now been injections. This trial measured cholesterol, not heart attacks or strokes. A separate, larger trial looking at those outcomes is still running.
Information only, not medical advice
This update reports publicly available research and news. It is not medical advice and not a substitute for your own doctor. We do not endorse or recommend any study, treatment, trial or product mentioned. Any decision is yours alone: consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting, stopping or changing any treatment. In an emergency dial 999.
- Navar AM et al. New England Journal of Medicine, 5 February 2026. PubMed record
- CORALreef Outcomes trial record, ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06008756. Trial record
Day 3 · Regulatory update
Two new cholesterol tablets approved, in the US and the EU
Evidence: regulatory decisions
United States: on 15 July 2026 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Lipfendra (enlicitide), alongside diet and exercise, to lower LDL cholesterol in adults with high cholesterol, including the inherited form (heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia). The FDA says it is the first PCSK9 inhibitor taken by mouth.
European Union: on 18 September 2026 the European Commission authorised obicetrapib, sold as Ubeslo, and obicetrapib combined with ezetimibe, sold as Evlarco, for adults with high cholesterol. This followed a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency on 23 July 2026.
United Kingdom: neither medicine appears in the medicines regulator's (MHRA's) lists of licences granted in 2026, which we checked on 21 October 2026. Approval elsewhere does not mean a medicine is available on the NHS.
Information only, not medical advice
This update reports publicly available research and news. It is not medical advice and not a substitute for your own doctor. We do not endorse or recommend any study, treatment, trial or product mentioned. Any decision is yours alone: consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting, stopping or changing any treatment. In an emergency dial 999.
- US Food and Drug Administration, 16 July 2026. FDA announcement
- European Medicines Agency, Ubeslo, opinion 23 July 2026. EMA page
- Menarini and NewAmsterdam Pharma, 21 September 2026. Company announcement
- MHRA, marketing authorisations granted in 2026, updated 20 October 2026. GOV.UK
Day 4 · Recruiting trial and research to come
A large trial of an Lp(a)-lowering tablet is recruiting in the UK and US
Evidence: trial registry listing. Information only, not a recommendation to take part
The trial: MOVE-Lp(a) is testing muvalaplin, a tablet, against placebo in adults with high lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), who have heart or circulation disease or are at risk of a heart attack or stroke. It is looking at whether it reduces major heart and circulation events. The registry lists it as recruiting, with sites in the UK and the US, about 10,450 participants planned, and main results estimated for March 2031.
We do not suggest taking part in any trial. Whether to look into one is entirely your own decision, made with your own doctor. The trial team decides who can take part.
Coming up: full results of the Lp(a)HORIZON trial of pelacarsen are due at an American Heart Association conference in November 2026. NewAmsterdam Pharma plans an early (interim) look at its PREVAIL heart-outcomes trial of obicetrapib in late 2026, with the result expected in the first quarter of 2027.
Information only, not medical advice
This update reports publicly available research and news. It is not medical advice and not a substitute for your own doctor. We do not endorse or recommend any study, treatment, trial or product mentioned. Any decision is yours alone: consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting, stopping or changing any treatment. In an emergency dial 999.
- MOVE-Lp(a), ClinicalTrials.gov NCT07157774, updated 24 September 2026. Trial record
- JAMA Medical News, 16 October 2026. Article
- NewAmsterdam Pharma, first-quarter update, 7 May 2026. Filing
Day 7 · Weekly summary
Your week in brief
- A tablet form of a PCSK9 inhibitor (enlicitide) more than halved LDL cholesterol in a large trial. It is approved in the US
- Obicetrapib is now authorised in the EU. Neither medicine was licensed in the UK when we checked
- Pelacarsen lowered Lp(a) but did not reduce heart and circulation events overall in Lp(a)HORIZON, according to the company's early (topline) announcement on 4 September 2026. Full results are due in November
- MOVE-Lp(a), a trial of an Lp(a)-lowering tablet, is recruiting in the UK and US
Information only, not medical advice
This update reports publicly available research and news. It is not medical advice and not a substitute for your own doctor. We do not endorse or recommend any study, treatment, trial or product mentioned. Any decision is yours alone: consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting, stopping or changing any treatment. In an emergency dial 999.
- Novartis, 4 September 2026. Announcement
- Sources for the other items are on Days 1 to 4
