Enlicitide, an oral cholesterol-lowering drug, is catching attention among doctors as an option for patients who want an injection-free treatment. Merck has also reached a milestone in its cholesterol drug pipeline, while a cholesterol medicine developed with McMaster University research has been approved for use in Canada.

Health outlets this week looked into how exercise changes LDL cholesterol readings, and TODAY.com urged readers to be careful about following cholesterol advice found on social media. LDL cholesterol is often called the 'bad' type because raised levels increase the risk of heart disease.