Patch: Pfizer stopped phase 3 trial of potential HDL raising drug

This is a patch to an update posted earlier 03 Dec 2006.

Today NEJM has published (available free at this time) early release articles¹ to coincide with presentations at a meeting of the American College of Cardiology². These articles elaborate possible mechanisms of adverse effects of CETP inhibitor torceptrapib (Pfizer Inc.) because of which Pfizer has terminated phase III clinical trials³ of promising HDL lowering agent drug.

Reference:
1. Articles available free for the time being at NEJM homepage. These articles will be in print format in March 29 and April 19, 2007 issue of NEJM.
2. American College of Cardiology 56th annual scientific session in New Orleans & 2nd Annual Innovation in Intervention | ACC.07 and i2 Summit 2007
3. Terminated clinical trials: Investigation of Lipid Level Management to Understand Its Impact in Atherosclerotic Events (ILLUMINATE) (ClinicalTrails.gov search: Torcetrapib/Atorvastatin) | Investigation of Lipid Level Management Using Coronary Ultrasound to Assess Reduction of Atherosclerosis by CETP Inhibition and HDL Elevation (ILLUSTRATE) trial (NCT00134173)
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Original post - 03 Dec 2006:

On December 2, 2006, FDA was notified that Pfizer will suspend a large, Phase 3 trial evaluating the investigational cardiovascular therapy torceptrapib/atorvastatin (T/A) due to an increased rate of mortality (death) in patients receiving the combination compared to those receiving atorvastatin alone...excerpt from FDA News

Torceptrapib was a potent inhibitor of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP). Read Effects of an Inhibitor of Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein on HDL Cholesterol NEJM 350:1505-1515 (2004)
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