New Drug Dramatically Increases HDL, or 'Good,' Cholesterol, Says Study

Nov. 17,2010— -- The estimated 30 million Americans currently taking statin medications for cholesterol may have a new choice for lowering their levels of "bad" cholesterol in the years to come. An experimental drug was shown to have a dramatic effect on cholesterol levels, lowering the bad stuff and raising the good.

Investigators presented the trial results this morning at the American Heart Association meeting in Chicago. Research showed that the new cardiovascular medication, known as anacetrapib, more than doubles the level of good HDL cholesterol and cuts bad LDL cholesterol in half.

"My eyes popped right open when I saw the results," said Dr. Christopher P. Cannon, senior investigator of the TIMI Study Group in the cardiovascular division of Brigham and Women's Hospital and lead author of the study. "Anyone who has seen this data is more excited than they have been in 10 years for new treatments for heart disease."

Anacetrapib was being used in a trial called DEFINE -- short for Determining the Efficacy and Tolerability of CETP Inhibition with AnacEtrapib. It included more than 1,600 patients who took either anacetrapib or a placebo. As is standard procedure with new medications, it was being tested first to make sure it was safe; tests of how well it worked would come later.

But along with confirmation of the drug's safety came hints that it could be effective as well.

"The biggest effect we saw was preventing the need for bypass surgery or angioplasty," said Cannon. "This need was reduced by two-thirds in just 18 months in stable outpatients who were on a statin and treated to their current guideline goals. This told me that this mechanism might work."

Four years ago, the drug manufacturer Pfizer halted the development of a similar medication, known as torcetrapib, after phase III trials showed a link to heart attacks and early death.

Merck and Co., Pfizer's competitor, sponsored the study on the new experimental drug.

"Merck has taken a prudent course by doing a smaller study to generate some preliminary information about the drug's effect," said Dr. Harlan Krumholz, professor of medicine, epidemiology and public health at the Yale University School of Medicine. "But importantly, they are not assuming benefit based on the lab test, and are now moving to a large study to determine if the drug will help people."

The failed Pfizer trial drug seemed to cause spikes in blood pressure and changes in hormone levels. In the end, researchers thought both side effects contributed to the increased risk of death.

Cannon and his fellow investigators took those negative side effects into account when setting up the new trial.