Emerging antidyslipidemic drugs.
BACKGROUND
Many patients at high risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) fail to reach target lipid levels with currently available medications, and a small but clinically relevant proportion of patients experience adverse effects. Thus, additional pharmaceutical strategies are required to fill these gaps in efficacy and tolerability.


OBJECTIVE
To provide an overview of both current and emerging antidyslipidemic drugs.


METHODS
For the current antidyslipidemic drugs, we focus primarily on statins, bile acid sequestrants, fibrates, ezetimibe, and niacin. Emerging antidyslipidemic drugs herein discussed were identified by searching the Pharmaprojects database for 'hypercholesterolemia drugs' (Phase II or Phase III), 'HDL-based therapies', and 'PCSK9 inhibition'.


CONCLUSIONS
Combinations of currently existing medications are most easily applicable. Meanwhile, strategies to raise HDL-C rely on a deep understanding of the complexity of HDL metabolism. Furthermore, novel approaches to further reduce LDL-C warrant careful evaluation of benefit-risk ratio. Finally, the medical community will have to rely on late-phase CHD outcome studies as the final arbiter of clinical application for any new antidyslipidemia treatment.
University of Western Ontario, Blackburn Cardiovascular Genetics Laboratory, Robarts Research Institute, 100 Perth Drive, Room 406, London, Ontario, N6A 5K8 Canada.
Rebecca L
RL
Pollex
Tisha R
TR
Joy
Robert A
RA
Hegele
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents