Torcetrapib
A review draws lessons from ILLUMINATE on the hypertension risk of CETP inhibitors despite raising HDL cholesterol by up to 100 percent (Curr Hypertens Rep 2009)
Original title: The hypertension peril: lessons from CETP inhibitors
Pharmacologic CETP inhibitors can raise HDL cholesterol by 50% to 100% in humans, and had shown intriguing antiatherogenic effects in animal models of atherosclerosis. Despite this, investigators of the ILLUMINATE trial, which tested the CETP inhibitor torcetrapib, observed excess cardiovascular and noncardiovascular morbidity and mortality associated with its use. This review summarizes available clinical and experimental data on the potential mechanisms underlying the hypertension and adverse outcomes seen with torcetrapib, drawing broader lessons for the development of the CETP-inhibitor drug class.
Original abstract
Pharmacologic inhibitors of the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) are capable of increasing HDL cholesterol by 50% to 100% in humans. Despite intriguing antiatherogenic effects of CETP inhibition in animal models of atherosclerosis, the Investigation of Lipid Level Management to Understand its Impact in Atherosclerotic Events trial investigators observed an excess of cardiovascular and noncardiovascular morbidity and mortality associated with the use of the CETP inhibitor torcetrapib. This review summarizes available clinical and experimental data about potential underlying mechanisms.
blood pressuresafetytorcetrapib
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 18 August 2026. Methods.