CETP INHIBITORS- A PROBABLE CLASS ACTION EFFECT TO BE PROATHEROGENIC

Implications: By reducing fractional catabolic rate and by producing a large, cholesterol rich HDL molecule which could not easily be cleared by hepatic HDL receptors, our research group in Cincinnati thought from the beginning that the CETP inhibitors AS A CLASS would fail, and might even be proatherogenic. Regrettably, with torcetrapib this sequence of events seemed to occur. Our concern is that this is a class effect and that CETP inhibitors are not a fruitful area for further drug development.

Analysis: CETP inhibitors may not be a fruitful approach to prevention of atherosclerosis.