Reductions in serum levels of LDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, triglycerides and lipoprotein(a) in hypercholesterolaemic patients treated with the liver‐selective thyroid hormone receptor agonist eprotirome

Background Liver‐selective thyromimetic agents could provide a new approach for treating dyslipidaemia. Methods We performed a multicentre, randomized, placebo‐controlled, double‐blind study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of eprotirome, a liver‐selective thyroid hormone receptor agonist, in 98 patients with primary hypercholesterolaemia. After previous drug wash‐out and dietary run‐in, patients received 100 or 200 μg day−1 eprotirome or placebo for 12 weeks. The primary end‐point was change in serum LDL cholesterol; secondary end‐points included changes in other lipid parameters and safety measures. Results Eprotirome treatment at 100 and 200 μg daily reduced serum LDL cholesterol levels by 23 ± 5% and 31 ± 4%, respectively, compared with 2 ± 6% for placebo (P