The class
Review of thirteen clinical CETP-inhibition studies finds pharmacological inhibitors raise HDL-C more consistently than vaccines (Curr Med Res Opin 2006)
Original title: The potential for CETP inhibition to reduce cardiovascular disease risk
Searching MEDLINE and EMBASE through June 2006 plus cardiology conference proceedings, this review identifies thirteen reports of vaccine-based or pharmacological CETP inhibition and analyzes their clinical findings alongside the broader case for CETP as an HDL-C-raising target to address residual cardiovascular risk beyond LDL-C lowering. Vaccine-based CETP inhibition produced modest and inconsistent HDL-C elevation, whereas pharmacological CETP inhibitors produced greater and more consistent HDL-C increases, leading the authors to conclude that pharmacological CETP inhibition was the more promising of the two approaches for reducing cardiovascular risk through HDL-C elevation, ahead of the large outcome trials that would later test the hypothesis directly.
Original abstract
Background: Although reductions in cardiovascular risk can be achieved by lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, treated patients remain at substantial risk. Epidemiological studies have established that higher levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) are strongly associated with reduced cardiovascular risk, and therefore raising levels of HDL-C may be beneficial. The activity of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) appears to be inversely correlated with HDL-C levels and thus CETP is an attractive target for intervention to raise levels of HDL-C and potentially reduce residual cardiovascular risk.
Objectives: This paper reviews the evidence for an atheroprotective role of higher levels of HDL-C, the function of CETP in cholesterol metabolism, and the concept of CETP inhibition as a potential new strategy for decreasing cardiovascular risk. An analysis of clinical studies of CETP inhibition was also performed.
Methods: MEDLINE (1966 to June 2006), EMBASE (1974 to June 2006), and cardiology conference proceedings were searched for clinical trials of CETP inhibition.
Results: Thirteen reports involving vaccine-based and pharmacological inhibition of CETP were found. Modest and inconsistent elevation of HDL-C was observed with vaccine-based therapy, whereas HDL-C elevation with pharmacological inhibitors was greater and more consistent.
Conclusions: Elevation of HDL-C via CETP inhibition appears to be a potentially promising approach to reduce cardiovascular disease. Preliminary studies suggest benefits of CETP inhibition on serum lipid levels, and ongoing studies should establish the effects on atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 19 August 2026. Methods.