JTT-705/CETP/HDL
Experimental drug boosts 'good' cholesterol
NEW YORK, Apr 15 (Reuters Health) - An experimental drug may help boost levels of HDL or "good" cholesterol by as much as 34% in as little as a month, according to a new study.
Because high levels of HDLs may reduce a person's risk for heart attack and stroke, researchers have been interested in finding drugs to boost HDL levels.
Writing in the April 15th issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, researchers from the Netherlands evaluated an experimental drug that blocks the action of a protein called CETP, which is known to regulate levels of HDL in the body.
"CETP represents an important target because this protein plays a key role in HDL metabolism," lead author Dr. John Kastelein of the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam said in a prepared statement. "In fact, a genetic deficiency of CETP is the main reason for high HDL (levels) in Asian populations."
In the study, 198 healthy men and women with a mildly elevated blood fat levels were divided into four groups. Three groups took various doses of the CETP inhibitor while those in the fourth group took an inactive placebo. The investigators measured levels of LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol at various points throughout the 12-week study.
After 4 weeks, those taking the highest dose of the drug saw their HDL levels increase by 34% and their LDL levels decrease by 7%, the authors report.
According to the study, the experimental drug, referred to as JTT-705, appeared to have mild gastrointestinal side effects including diarrhea, flatulence, nausea and constipation.
"Although these results hold promise, further studies are needed to investigate whether the increase in HDL cholesterol translates into a reduction in coronary artery disease risk," said Kastelein.
The study was sponsored by Japan Tobacco Inc. in Tokyo and managed by Orion Clinical Services Ltd, located in Slough, UK.
SOURCE: Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association 2002;105. |
