Merck looks to ditch the needles with its next-gen oral PCSK9 inhibitor for high cholesterol

The pharma giant unveiled on Monday what it says are the first in-human results for an oral PCSK9 inhibitor. The candidate, MK-0616, was well-tolerated in men and women with high cholesterol at doses up to 300 mg, with no deaths or serious side effects, the company said at the American Heart Association conference.