Response

Several large, randomized clinical trials have failed to show a cardiovascular benefit of vitamin E supplementation.5 Treatment with torcetrapib was associated with an increase in blood pressure, alterations in serum electrolytes, and an increase in circulating aldosterone levels.6 These effects appear to be compound-specific and unrelated to the mechanism of CETP inhibition.7,8 It is reassuring that no alterations in blood pressure, serum electrolytes, and aldosterone levels were observed in the phase II study with anacetrapib.9 A study to assess long-term efficacy and safety of anacetrapib in patients with coronary heart disease is currently in progress (clinical trials.gov NCT00685776).