New Drug May Safely Boost 'Good' Cholesterol
New Drug May Safely Boost 'Good' Cholesterol
Anacetrapib Doubles HDL, Lowers LDL, While Hitting Safety Goals
Of note, Cannon says, is that substantially fewer people on the new drug needed to undergo bypass surgery or angioplasty to open up blocked arteries: 8 vs. 28 in the placebo group.
Although the numbers are small, the two-thirds reduction in such procedures is a hint that over time, the drug will decrease cardiovascular events, he says.
In the study, people were taken off anacetrapib if their LDL levels dropped below 25 mg/dL; this occurred in 142 (17%) of patients. "We don't know [if lowering LDL to such low levels will cause harm], so we played it safe," Cannon says.
Participants were about 63 years old on average; 23% were women; 17% were Asian, African-American or multiracial, and 15% were Hispanic. Just over half already had heart disease or had suffered a heart attack; the rest were at risk for heart disease.
The study was funded by Merck Research Laboratories, maker of anacetrapib.
New Drug May Safely Boost 'Good' Cholesterol
Anacetrapib Doubles HDL, Lowers LDL, While Hitting Safety Goals
Anacetrapib Cuts Need for Heart Procedures
Of note, Cannon says, is that substantially fewer people on the new drug needed to undergo bypass surgery or angioplasty to open up blocked arteries: 8 vs. 28 in the placebo group.
Although the numbers are small, the two-thirds reduction in such procedures is a hint that over time, the drug will decrease cardiovascular events, he says.
In the study, people were taken off anacetrapib if their LDL levels dropped below 25 mg/dL; this occurred in 142 (17%) of patients. "We don't know [if lowering LDL to such low levels will cause harm], so we played it safe," Cannon says.
Participants were about 63 years old on average; 23% were women; 17% were Asian, African-American or multiracial, and 15% were Hispanic. Just over half already had heart disease or had suffered a heart attack; the rest were at risk for heart disease.
The study was funded by Merck Research Laboratories, maker of anacetrapib.
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