title: Cholesterol, cholesterol-lowering agents/statins, and urologic disease: Part VI--The recent rise and fall of the HDL-boosting drug torceptrapib.
abstract: Pfizer Inc. recently discontinued its billion-dollar investment and phase III clinical trial of their new high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or "good cholesterol" boosting drug torceptrapib because of unexpected life-threatening side effects. To provide an objective discussion with patients looking for the next miracle drug or even dietary supplement in medicine, it is important to provide an overview of the history of this drug. It should serve as an important lesson that traditional lifestyle factors and proven heart healthy medications have stood the test of time in terms of research. Despite the current interest in drug development, traditional HDL-boosting lifestyle initiatives such as exercise, weight loss, and smoking cessation can be incorporated now and are heart and urologic healthy.
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan Medical Center, Department of Urology, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Moyad
authors.forename: Gregory S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Merrick
mesh_terms: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000187:drug effects*; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D004345:Drug Industry; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011804:Quinolines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011804:Quinolines; C483909:torcetrapib