Torcetrapib
Torcetrapib cuts insulin levels by 49 percent and improves glucose uptake across tissues in insulin-resistant hamsters (Atherosclerosis 2014)
Original title: Raising HDL with CETP inhibitor torcetrapib improves glucose homeostasis in dyslipidemic and insulin resistant hamsters
Researchers investigated whether raising HDL cholesterol with the CETP inhibitor torcetrapib improves glucose homeostasis in dyslipidemic, insulin-resistant hamsters. Compared with vehicle, torcetrapib 30 mg per kg per day for 10 days increased both HDL cholesterol levels and tracer appearance in HDL by about 40%, and significantly reduced fasting plasma triglycerides, glycerol, and free fatty acids by 65%, 31%, and 23% respectively. Torcetrapib also reduced blood glucose by 20% and plasma insulin by 49%, producing a 60% reduction in the HOMA-IR insulin resistance index (all p < 0.01). After tracer glucose and insulin injection, torcetrapib significantly increased glucose uptake in oxidative soleus muscle, liver, and heart by 26%, 33%, and 70% respectively, demonstrating that CETP inhibition can improve glucose homeostasis alongside its lipid effects, though whether other CETP inhibitors share this effect remained to be tested.
Original abstract
We investigated whether raising HDL-cholesterol levels with cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibition improves glucose homeostasis in dyslipidemic and insulin resistant hamsters. Compared with vehicle, torcetrapib 30 mg/kg/day (TOR) administered for 10 days significantly increased by ∼40% both HDL-cholesterol levels and 3H-tracer appearance in HDL after 3H-cholesterol labeled macrophages i.p. injection. TOR significantly reduced fasting plasma triglycerides, glycerol and free fatty acids levels by 65%, 31% and 23%, respectively. TOR also reduced blood glucose levels and plasma insulin by 20% and 49% respectively, which led to a 60% reduction in HOMA-IR index (all p<0.01). After 3H-2-deoxyglucose and insulin injection, TOR significantly increased glucose uptake in oxidative soleus muscle, liver and heart by 26, 33 and 70%, respectively. Raising HDL levels with the CETP inhibitor torcetrapib improves glucose homeostasis in dyslipidemic and insulin resistant hamsters. Whether similar effect would be observed with other CETP inhibitors should be investigated.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 18 August 2026. Methods.