Tag Archives: lipoprotein

A new gene therapy that targets the heart and requires only one treatment session, has been found safe for patients with coronary artery disease, according to a successful trial carried out in Finland (doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehx352). The treatment enhances circulation in ischaemic heart muscle and the effects were still visible one year after treatment. The randomised, blinded, placebo-controlled phase 1/2a trial was carried out in collaboration between the University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio University Hospital and Turku PET Centre. The biological bypass is based on gene transfer in which a natural human growth factor, AdVEGF-DΔNΔC, a ne

Two phase I studies with anacetrapib (Lancet 2007;370:1907–14), show impressive effects on raising high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)  and lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), with no signs of any increase in blood pressure. The authors, from Merck, US, conclude: “Anacetrapib seems to exhibit HDL-C increases greater than those seen with other investigational drugs in this class and LDL-C-lowering effects similar to statins. Despite greater lipid-altering effects relative to other members of this class, anacetrapib seems not to increase blood pressure, suggesting that potent CETP inhibition by itself might not lead to incre