Cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitors

As well as hypercholesterolaemia, low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL;C) are critical risk factors for atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease (CHD). Although fibrate, simvastatin and niacin can be used for the treatment of a low HDL-C level, their effects, however, are not wholly satisfactory. Thus, better drugs for the elevation of HDL-C are desired. Among the many methods that mag; be used to raise HDL-C levels, this review focuses on small molecule inhibitors of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) and summarises recent patent and journal data.