The class
Beyond small-molecule inhibitors: a review surveys CETP-targeted immunotherapy and vaccines as an emerging route to raising HDL (Hum Vaccin Immunother 2025)
Original title: Recent advances in immunotherapy targeting CETP proteins for atherosclerosis prevention
A review of CETP structure, its lipid-transfer mechanism, and the last decade of immunotherapy approaches aimed at the protein. Small-molecule CETP inhibitors such as obicetrapib are noted as reducing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk by targeting lipid metabolism, but the review's main focus is CETP-directed vaccines, which aim to induce antibodies against CETP to reduce its activity and raise HDL levels as an alternative delivery route to daily oral dosing. The authors frame this as an early-stage strategy meant to inform future drug and immunisation development rather than a therapy with clinical trial data of its own.
Original abstract
Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) plays a key role in lipoprotein metabolism, and its activity has been linked to the risk of atherosclerosis (AS). CETP inhibitors, such as obicetrapib, represent a novel approach in immunotherapy to reduce the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) by targeting lipid metabolism. In addition, CETP vaccines are being explored as a novel strategy for the prevention and treatment of ASCVD by inducing the body to produce antibodies against CETP, which is expected to reduce CETP activity, thereby increasing high-density lipoproteins (HDL) levels. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the structure of CETP, the mechanisms of lipid transfer and the progress of immunotherapy in the last decade, which provides possible ideas for future development of novel drugs and optimization of immunization strategies.
the classmechanismspharmacology
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 18 August 2026. Methods.