Les inhibiteurs de la CETP

The concept that HDL-cholesterol raising through inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) may decrease the residual cardiovascular risk observed on statin therapy has been challenged by the failure of the CETP inhibitor, torcetrapib. Indeed even if CETP contributes to an atherogenic lipoprotein profile by redistributing cholesteryl esters from HDL toward apoB containing lipoproteins, this lipid transfer may also have antiatherogenic properties. However, off-target effects of torcetrapib on blood pressure, unrelated to CETP inhibition, were believed to provide an explanation for the failure of this drug. Other CETP inhibitors, such as dalcetrapib and anacetrapib, are unlikely to increase blood pressure. Results of large ongoing clinical end-point trials are necessary to provide convincing evidence that, in addition to raising HDL-cholesterol, CETP inhibition is a viable strategy in addition to statin therapy in high-risk patients.