Dr. Christopher Cannon, cardiologist, explains acacetrapib, an experimental drug by Merck that pushed the so-called good cholesterol HDL to off-the-charts levels while also dropping bad cholesterol LDL is renewing hopes for a novel way to lower heart risks.
Anacetrapib works by inhibiting an enzyme, called CETP, that is involved in transforming particles of good cholesterol into bad cholesterol. LDL: A 39.8% reduction with anacetrapib beyond that seen with placebo. HDL: A 138.1% increase with anacetrapib beyond that seen with placebo.
Christopher P. Cannon, M.D., Sukrut Shah, Ph.D., R.Ph., Hayes M. Dansky, M.D., Michael Davidson, M.D., Eliot A. Brinton, M.D., Antonio M. Gotto, Jr., M.D., D.Phil., Michael Stepanavage, M.S., Sherry Xueyu Liu, M.S., Patrice Gibbons, M.S., Tanya B. Ashraf, B.A., Jennifer Zafarino, M.S., Yale Mitchel, M.D., and Philip Barter, M.D., Ph.D. Safety of Anacetrapib in Patients with or at High Risk for Coronary Heart Disease. New England Journal of Medicine November 17, 2010
[PubMed.gov reference developing …]
