Analysis of ACCELERATE study of evacetrapib provides a paradox.- Eli Lilly

Results from the 12,000 patient ACCELERATE study were released at the American College of Cardiology conference in Chicago on 3 April, showing that evacetrapib from Eli Lilly lowered bad cholesterol, or LDL-C, by 37%, while improving good cholesterol, or HDL-C, by 130%. However the trial was stopped early for futility because a Data Safety Monitoring Board determined that the drug was having no impact on cardiovascular health compared with a placebo.

Cleveland Clinic researchers in a further analysis found that not only did evacetrapib,not reduce CV events, but that hypertension was significantly increased with evacetrapib--an important adverse event considering the CV risk level of the patient population.

Comment: Earlier CETP inhibitors, torcetrapib from Pfizer and dalcetrapib from Roche have had their development discontinued and Merck Inc., has MK 0859 (anacetrapib) in Phase III development. Amgen acquired TA 8995 from Dezima which is in Phase II.