Merck & Co's Ph III cholesterol inhibitor anacetrapib meets safety and efficacy endpoints in patients with CHD

Positive results from the Phase III DEFINE (Determining the EFficacy and Tolerability of CETP INhibition with AnacEtrapib) study with US drug giant Merck & Co's (NYSE: MRK) investigational CETP [cholesteryl ester transfer protein] inhibitor] anacetrapib were presented at the American Heart Association meeting in Chicago, showing the drug significantly increased good cholesterol and lowering the bad.

In the Phase III trial of 1,623 patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) or CHD risk equivalents, anacetrapib showed no significant differences from placebo in the primary safety measures studied. Merck’s shares rose 2.3% to $34.87 in morning trading yesterday following the news.

There were no significant differences in mean changes in blood pressure between the anacetrapib and placebo treatment groups, nor were there any significant differences in serum electrolytes or aldosterone levels. During the 76-week treatment phase, the pre-specified adjudicated cardiovascular endpoint (defined as cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, unstable angina or stroke) occurred in 16 anacetrapib-treated patients (2.0%) compared with 21 placebo-treated patients (2.6%) (p=0.40).