Enlicitide, an oral cholesterol-lowering drug, is catching attention among doctors as an option for patients who prefer to avoid injections. Merck has also achieved a key step 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 covered how exercise changes LDL cholesterol readings, and TODAY.com cautioned readers against following cholesterol advice circulating on social media. LDL cholesterol is often called the 'bad' type because high levels are linked to heart disease.