Doctors have high hopes that a new drug called
anacetrapib might possibly save lives in the
future. At least 1,600 patients took part
in a limited trial of the drug, with some
taking anacetrapib and others taking a placebo.
Dr. Christopher Cannon of Brigham and Women's
Hospital in Boston was the senior investigator
in the study. "We studied a new medication
that's four to 10 times stronger than any
prior therapy," he said. For years, doctors
prescribed statin drugs to lower bad cholesterol.
But statins are not as effective in raising
good cholesterol that works to remove plaque
from arteries. In the study, patients taking
anacetrapib saw their bad cholesterol drop
by 40 percent and their good cholesterol by
138 percent. Dr. Harlan Krumholz is specialist
with the Yale University School of Medicine.
"It really has a remarkable effect on lowering
of the bad cholesterol and raising of the
good cholesterol," he said. Researchers agree
a much larger and longer clinical trial is
needed. Early next year 30,000 people will
begin a four year international study of the
drug. Patients already diagnosed with disease,
and who are on statin drugs, will be taking
anacetrapib.Dr Krumholz says the medical community
needs to learn much more before the drug goes
on the market. "It's still to be told whether
or not these changes can translate into a
meaningful benefit for patients," he said.
In the meantime, doctors say the old advice
still stands: exercise regularly, eliminate
fattening and unhealthy foods that might run
up the bad cholesterol.