00:00It's Benzinga, bringing Wall Street to Main Street.
00:02U.S. regulators approved Merck's Lipfendra, the first oral PCSK9 drug designed to lower
00:09cholesterol beyond what statins alone can achieve, according to the Wall Street Journal.
00:14The FDA based its decision on studies showing the once-daily pill reduced LDL cholesterol
00:18by up to 60% over six months in adults with or at risk for cardiovascular disease.
00:24Lipfendra can be taken with statins and offers an alternative to injectable treatments
00:28such as Amgen's Repatha.
00:30Lipfendra will cost $10.50 per pill or $315 monthly, though insured patients are expected
00:38to pay less out of pocket.
00:39Analysts expect peak annual sales above $5 billion as Merck prepares for lower-priced competition
00:45to cancer blockbuster Keytruda.
00:47For all things money, visit Benzinga.com.
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