Effectiveness of inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein by JTT-705 in combination with pravastatin in type II dyslipidemia.

The inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) has recently been shown to effectively increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. This study examined the use of the CETP inhibitor JTT-705 combined with pravastatin. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 155 patients with type II dyslipidemia using pravastatin 40 mg were treated with placebo or JTT-705 300 or 600 mg. Four weeks of treatment with JTT-705 600 mg led to a 30% decrease in CETP activity (p <0.001), a 28% increase in HDL cholesterol (p <0.001), and a 5% decrease in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p <0.03). Combination therapy using JTT-705 and pravastatin effectively increases HDL cholesterol levels and is safe and well tolerated up to 4 weeks of administration.