What class of drugs does ezetimibe belong to?

Ezetimibe belongs to the class of drugs known as cholesterol absorption inhibitors. This class specifically works by reducing the intestinal absorption of cholesterol, leading to decreased levels of cholesterol in the bloodstream. Ezetimibe functions by targeting and inhibiting the Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 (NPC1L1) protein, which plays a critical role in the uptake of cholesterol from the diet. This mechanism helps in lowering both total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, making it effective for patients who require additional lipid-lowering treatment alongside other therapies, such as statins.

The other categories, while all relevant to lipid management, work through different mechanisms and do not include ezetimibe. Statins, for instance, primarily inhibit the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase to lower cholesterol production in the liver. Fibrates primarily affect triglyceride levels and have a different mechanism of action involving peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs). Bile acid sequestrants work by binding bile acids and preventing their reabsorption, which ultimately leads to increased cholesterol utilization and reduction in its levels, but they do not relate to the mechanism by which ezetimibe functions. Each of these