Effects of torcetrapib in patients at high risk for coronary events.
BACKGROUND
Inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) has been shown to have a substantial effect on plasma lipoprotein levels. We investigated whether torcetrapib, a potent CETP inhibitor, might reduce major cardiovascular events. The trial was terminated prematurely because of an increased risk of death and cardiac events in patients receiving torcetrapib.


METHODS
We conducted a randomized, double-blind study involving 15,067 patients at high cardiovascular risk. The patients received either torcetrapib plus atorvastatin or atorvastatin alone. The primary outcome was the time to the first major cardiovascular event, which was defined as death from coronary heart disease, nonfatal myocardial infarction, stroke, or hospitalization for unstable angina.


RESULTS
At 12 months in patients who received torcetrapib, there was an increase of 72.1% in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and a decrease of 24.9% in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, as compared with baseline (P<0.001 for both comparisons), in addition to an increase of 5.4 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure, a decrease in serum potassium, and increases in serum sodium, bicarbonate, and aldosterone (P<0.001 for all comparisons). There was also an increased risk of cardiovascular events (hazard ratio, 1.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09 to 1.44; P=0.001) and death from any cause (hazard ratio, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.14 to 2.19; P=0.006). Post hoc analyses showed an increased risk of death in patients treated with torcetrapib whose reduction in potassium or increase in bicarbonate was greater than the median change.


CONCLUSIONS
Torcetrapib therapy resulted in an increased risk of mortality and morbidity of unknown mechanism. Although there was evidence of an off-target effect of torcetrapib, we cannot rule out adverse effects related to CETP inhibition. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00134264 [ClinicalTrials.gov].).
Barter
Philip J
PJ
Heart Research Institute, Camperdown, Sydney, NSW, Australia. barterp@hri.org.au
Caulfield
Mark
M
Eriksson
Mats
M
Grundy
Scott M
SM
Kastelein
John J P
JJ
Komajda
Michel
M
Lopez-Sendon
Jose
J
Mosca
Lori
L
Tardif
Jean-Claude
JC
Waters
David D
DD
Shear
Charles L
CL
Revkin
James H
JH
Buhr
Kevin A
KA
Fisher
Marian R
MR
Tall
Alan R
AR
Brewer
Bryan
B
D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality*; D053480:Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011804:Quinolines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D053480:Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D011758:Pyrroles; D011804:Quinolines; C483909:torcetrapib; D000069059:Atorvastatin