Anacetrapib and dalcetrapib: two novel cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitors

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C) in plasma has been recog-nized as inversely related to risk of coro-nary heart disease (CHD). Epidemiolog-ic studies have shown the relationship to be statistically significant after adjust-ment for other risk factors.1-7 The Fram-ingham Study showed HDL-C to be the strongest lipid risk factor when com-pared with fasting plasma triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein choles-terol (LDL-C), and total cholesterol lev-els.1 The Framingham Study was further evaluated, along with 3 other US trials, and investigators concluded that each 1-mg/dL increase in HDL-C is associated with a 2-3 % decrease in the risk of CHD.8 In addition, large randomized controlled clinical trials using gemfi-brozil, niacin, and hydroxymethylglu-taryl-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) resulted in reductions in coronary events by increasing HDL-C, independent of al-terations in other lipid parameters.9-12 While the Adult Treatment Panel III states that the major target of therapy in persons with low HDL-C is LDL-C re-duction,13 analysis of statin trials has shown that extensive risk remains in the treatment groups. This may be explained by low initial levels of HDL-C, which has been shown in trials to be correlate