Anacetrapib: a new weapon against dyslipidemia

Abstract

Anacetrapib is a cholesteryl-ester-transfer-protein (CETP) inhibitor, a new class of experimental drugs in the treatment of primary hypercholesterolemia and dyslipidaemia associated with the metabolic syndrome. One of the major advantages of this agent is, apart from the significant decrease in LDL-C it produces a substantial increase in HDL-C. Phase I, II, and III clinical trials have shown that anacetrapib is safe alone or in combination with statins. However, longterm clinical trials are required in order to assess whether it reduces mortality in individuals at high-risk of cardiovascular disease.