Experimental Drugs Boost Cholesterol

As high levels of HDL are known to reduce a person's risk for heart attack and stroke, the search for an ideal drug to boost HDL levels has always been one of the top priorities amongst modern scientists.

According to a recent study in the Netherlands, a newly developed experimental drug has great potential of boosting levels of HDL or "good" cholesterol by as much as 34 percent in a short time frame of less than a month. This drug possesses the unique ability to block the action of a protein called CETP, which is known to regulate levels of HDL in the body.

The researchers conducted an investigation with a sampling group of 198 healthy men and women with mildly elevated blood fat levels. These subjects were divided into four groups. The first three groups took various doses of the CETP inhibitor while those in the fourth group took an inactive placebo. The subjects levels of LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol were monitored and measured at various stages throughout the 12-week study period.

After the first four weeks, the researchers were happy to report that the group that took the highest dosage of the drug saw their HDL levels increased by 34 percent and their LDL levels decreased by 7%. These results are certainly very promising and encouraging.

This new drug has been named JTT-705. Some of the minor side effects reported are mild gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea, flatulence, nausea and constipation.

SOURCE: Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association 2002;105.