A New Agent for Lowering Lipid Levels?

In a phase II study, eprotirome, a thyromimetic, yielded promising results when added to statins in patients with treatment-resistant hypercholesterolemia.

Although statins have dramatically reduced the incidence of cardiovascular events in some populations, many patients remain at high risk. Thyroid hormone has favorable effects on lipid levels, but adverse effects have thwarted previous efforts to develop effective thyromimetic drugs.

In this 12-week, manufacturer-sponsored, multicenter, double-blind, randomized trial, investigators assessed the safety and efficacy of the thyroid hormone analogue eprotirome in 184 patients who had serum LDL levels of ≥116 mg/dL despite taking simvastatin (≤40 mg/day) or atorvastatin (≤20 mg/day) at stable doses. Patients were assigned to receive placebo or one of three doses of eprotirome (25, 50, or 100 µg/day) in addition to their statins. The primary outco…

Reviewing Author

JoAnne M. Foody, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardAegerion; Amarin; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Janssen; Merck; Pfizer; Sanofi-Aventis; Boehringer Ingelheim

Leadership positions in professional societiesAmerican College of Cardiology, Cardiosmart (Co-chair)

JoAnne M. Foody, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardAegerion; Amarin; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Janssen; Merck; Pfizer; Sanofi-Aventis; Boehringer Ingelheim

Leadership positions in professional societiesAmerican College of Cardiology, Cardiosmart (Co-chair)

A New Agent for Lowering Lipid Levels?

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Reviewing Author