Pfizer’s Cholesterol Study

Medical Editor Dr. Timothy Johnson blogs: The news about stopping Torcetrapib is stunning — financially for Pfizer and medically for all of us who hoped we would have a new safe and effective way to raise HDL or "good cholesterol." We now have to learn why this drug increased the risk of death — and whether other drugs trying to raise HDL might be dangerous. We know that niacin can raise HDL safely so many experts think that the problem was with this particular drug — not raising HDL per se. And remember: this has nothing to do with lowering bad cholesterol (LDL) with statins. Those drugs have been around for 20 years and are safe for most people — and very effective at lowering LDL levels and the risk for heart disease.