How does ezetimibe, a cholesterol lowering drug work?

How does ezetimibe, a cholesterol lowering drug work?

Ezetimibe lowers blood cholesterol by inhibiting its intestinal absorption by acting on Niemann-Pick C1Like1 (NPC1L1) receptor in the intestinal brush border. NPC1L1 is the phytosterol and cholesterol transporter in the intestinal brush border. Ezetimibe causes a decrease in LDL-Cholesterol by inhibiting this transporter. A combination of ezetimibe with atorvastatin is quite powerful in bringing down cholesterol.