Enlicitide, an oral cholesterol-lowering drug, is catching attention among doctors as an option for patients who prefer to avoid injections. Merck has also reached a milestone in its cholesterol drug pipeline, while a cholesterol medicine developed with McMaster University research has cleared regulatory approval in Canada.

Health outlets this week covered how exercise affects LDL cholesterol levels, and TODAY.com cautioned readers against following cholesterol advice circulating on social media. LDL cholesterol is commonly referred to as the 'bad' type because elevated levels are associated with heart disease.