WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a first-of-its-kind pill that can drastically reduce cholesterol in a way that's previously only been available with expensive, injectable drugs.

The speedy clearance of Lipfendra is an important milestone for Merck and the result of a controversial voucher program put in place by former commissioner Marty Makary.

Merck said on Thursday the U.S. FDA has approved its cholesterol pill, the first of its kind to receive the health regulator’s nod, bolstering the drugmaker’s efforts to…

Most adults have levels of a dangerous type of cholesterol that are above 100, but this new drug can reduce levels to around 50