Science Videos

Dr. Glaucomflecken Explains: Oral PCSK9 Inhibitor Enlicitide (CORALreef Lipids)

The video features Dr. Glaucomflecken discussing a new oral PCSK9 inhibitor, Enlisticide, and its recent New England Journal of Medicine publication. The drug targets patients with familial hypercholesterolemia or elevated LDL—specifically those with prior cardiovascular events (LDL > 55 mg/dL) or at high risk for a first event (LDL > 70 mg/dL). In a randomized, double‑blind study of 2,900 adults, participants received either once‑daily Enlisticide or placebo for 24 weeks. The trial reported a 57 % reduction in LDL cholesterol in the treatment arm versus a modest 3 % decline with placebo, underscoring the drug’s potency compared with existing injectable PCSK9 antibodies. The dialogue, peppered with humor about arch‑nemesis specialties, highlights the clinical relevance: “What medication you think we should start on this patient? I’ve got one word—PCSK9.” The researchers’ findings, now in NEJM, lend credibility to the oral formulation, positioning it as a potential game‑changer for lipid management. If the results are replicated in longer‑term studies, Enlisticide could simplify therapy, improve adherence, and reshape guideline recommendations, especially for patients reluctant to receive injections. Its oral route may also affect pricing dynamics and market competition among lipid‑lowering agents.