Torcetrapib
A review questions whether CETP inhibitors can ultimately reduce cardiovascular events after torcetrapib raised blood pressure without slowing coronary atherosclerosis (Am J Cardiol 2007)
Original title: Refocusing on use of cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitors
CETP plays an important role in cholesterol metabolism by transferring cholesteryl esters from HDL to VLDL and LDL, and CETP inhibitors were developed as a novel way to raise HDL cholesterol and lower LDL cholesterol to alter atherogenesis. This article discusses how results from recent clinical trials have called into question the therapeutic use of at least one CETP inhibitor, torcetrapib, which was shown to increase blood pressure and had no effect on slowing the progression of coronary atherosclerosis. The review examines the effects of CETP inhibitors on lipoprotein metabolism and whether the class can ultimately reduce cardiovascular events despite the torcetrapib setback.
Original abstract
Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) plays an important role in cholesterol metabolism because it is responsible for the transfer of cholesteryl esters from high-density lipoprotein (HDL) to very-low-density lipoproteins and low-density lipoproteins (LDLs). The development of CETP inhibitors represented a novel approach for raising HDL cholesterol and reducing LDL cholesterol levels to alter atherogenesis. However, results from recent clinical trials question the therapeutic use of at least 1 CETP inhibitor, torcetrapib (Pfizer Inc, New York, NY), which was demonstrated to increase blood pressure and have no effect on decreasing the progression of coronary atherosclerosis. This article discusses the use of CETP inhibitors and their effects on lipoprotein metabolism and whether they can ultimately lead to reductions in cardiovascular events.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 18 August 2026. Methods.