New approaches to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. the potentialities of torcetrapib.

Jose Luis Pérez-Castrillon, Antonio Dueñas-Laita

Index: Recent Pat. Cardiovasc. Drug Discov. 1(1) , 109-14, (2006)

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Abstract

Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of death and disability in the developed world. Although the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol lowering drugs reduce the mortality and morbidity associated with coronary artery disease, considerable mortality and morbidity remains. Reverse cholesterol transport mediated by high-density lipoproteins (HDL) may provide an independent pathway for lipid removal from atheroma. The current NCEP ATPIII include HDL-cholesterol > or =1.6 mmol/l as a negative risk factor. Torcetrapib is an inhibitor of cholesteryl ester-transfer protein (CETP) that increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. The drug increases HDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I levels and decreases LDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein B levels. The effect is showed in monotherapy and when administered in combination with statins. In addition, torcetrapib did not significantly change the serum levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. The raising HDL-cholesterol with torcetrapib could be a new approach to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease although new trials based on hard clinical end points are necessary.