Genetics
CETP I405V I-allele carriers respond better to simvastatin, with greater triglyceride and HDL cholesterol improvement (Expert Opin Pharmacother 2007)
Original title: Pharmacogenetic study of cholesteryl ester transfer protein gene and simvastatin treatment in hypercholesterolaemic subjects
This study examined the effect of the CETP I405V and TaqIB polymorphisms on lipid response to simvastatin treatment in 180 hypercholesterolaemic patients attending the lipid clinic at the Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, who were genotyped and evaluated for treatment response. CETP sequence variation influenced the lipid-lowering treatment effect: carriers of the I405V I allele had a greater reduction in triglycerides (p=0.04) and a significant increase in HDL-cholesterol (p=0.05) after simvastatin treatment compared to V allele carriers. The authors conclude the CETP I405V polymorphism modifies the effect of simvastatin on triglyceride reduction and HDL-cholesterol elevation, with I allele carriers responding better to treatment, though they note the findings need confirmation in larger studies.
Original abstract
Objective: To examine the effect of the I405V and TaqIB polymorphisms of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) on the lipid response after simvastatin treatment in 180 hypercholesterolaemic patients.
Methods: Hypercholesterolaemic patients (n = 180) attending the lipid clinic at the Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center were genotyped and their response to simvastatin was evaluated.
Results: Sequence variations in the CETP gene influenced the effect of lipid-lowering treatment. Specifically, the I allele of the I405V polymorphism was associated with a greater reduction in triglyceride (TG; p = 0.04) and a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (p = 0.05) after treatment compared with the V allele.
Conclusions: The authors' findings suggest that CETP I405V polymorphism modifies the effect of simvastatin on TG reduction and HDL-C elevation; the carriers of the I allele responded better to treatment. These findings need to be confirmed in larger studies.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 19 August 2026. Methods.