JOHN KASTELEIN, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam
A drug which raises HDL and reduces circulating levels of LDL has nevertheless failed to reduce atherosclerotic progression in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia. This disappointing outcome of a study using the cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitor (CETP), torcetrapib, was announced at the American College of Cardiology meeting in New Orleans. John Kastelein discussed the findings, and their implications for therapies targeting HDL, with Peter Goodwin.