The quest for the small molecule holy grail with Merck’s head of R&D

Scientists at Merck are staring down a drug development puzzle. One that has to do with a mutated protein called PCSK9, which is associated with the production of harmful levels of cholesterol in the blood.

The PCSK9 protein is actually relatively easy to target a drug against. Two cholesterol-lowering monoclonal antibodies that work by blocking PCSK9 were approved back in 2015. Last December, the FDA approved a third treatment that works by interfering with the RNA that precedes PCSK9.

But all of these medicines are administered by regular injections. The puzzle that Merck scientists are trying to solve is how to design a more convenient pill that can lower cholesterol by also blocking PCSK9. Dean Li, a cardiologist and Merck’s head of research and development, spoke to “The Readout LOUD” about this research.

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