Torcetrapib in Patients at High Risk for Coronary Events: ILLUMINATE Trial Latest Results

Philip Barter

Gordon Tomaselli

REFERENCE: Late Breaking Clinical Trials, Session 2, American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, 4-7 November, 2007, Orlando, Florida
N Engl J Med 2007;357
PHILIP BARTER, Heart Research Institute, Sydney, Australia
COMMENT: GORDON TOMASELLI, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore
A randomized double-blind study involving over 15,000 patients at high cardiovascular risk which looked at the new agent torcetrapib (an inhibitor of cholesteryl ester transfer protein, CETP) resulted in higher mortality in the experimental arm. The study compared torcetrapib plus atorvastatin with atorvatstin alone. Inhibition of CETP increases HDL levels and reduces LDL levels and should combat atherosclerosis. Sarah Maxwell spoke with Philip Barter who presented data on the ILLUMINATE trial at the American Heart Association meeting in Orlando.