Obicetrapib
Is obicetrapib a game changer? A review reframes CETP inhibition around apoB and LDL-C lowering rather than raising HDL-C (Expert Opin Pharmacother 2024)
Original title: Evaluating obicetrapib as an emerging treatment for patients with dyslipidemia: a game changer?
A review revisiting CETP inhibition after early development, which focused on raising HDL-C, proved disappointing. The authors argue more recent data point to lowering atherogenic lipid parameters, rather than raising HDL-C, as the plausible route to cardiovascular risk reduction, and summarise the development of obicetrapib as a potent CETP inhibitor with robust lowering of apoB and LDL-C, both as monotherapy and added to high-intensity statin therapy. The authors state the ultimate impact of obicetrapib on cardiovascular events awaits confirmation from ongoing clinical trials, framing its promise as plausible rather than proven at time of writing.
Original abstract
Introduction: Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) plays an important role in lipid metabolism. Early interest in the development of CETP inhibitors proved to be disappointing. Recent interest has focused on the potential for CETP inhibition to reduce cardiovascular risk by lowering levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C).
Areas Covered: The data suggesting that low CETP activity may associate with lower levels of cardiovascular risk and early experience with CETP inhibitors focused on raising HDL-C levels. More recent data that suggests that any potential to reduce cardiovascular risk by inhibition of CETP is more likely to result from lowering levels of atherogenic lipid parameters. The development of obicetrapib, a potent CETP inhibitor, with robust lowering of apoB and LDL-C, will be summarized as a potential approach to the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
Expert Opinion: Obicetrapib is a potent CETP inhibitor, with a demonstrated ability to lower levels of apoB and LDL-C as monotherapy and in addition to high intensity statin therapy. The ultimate impact of obicetrapib on cardiovascular events will be evaluated by ongoing clinical trials.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 18 August 2026. Methods.