26/08/2011
Cholesterol drug shows promise for the treatment of Type II diabetes
High-density lipoprotein (HDL), or ‘good cholesterol’, has long been known to be protective against the development of heart disease and recent studies have found it also has anti-diabetic properties.
Researchers unearthed the finding whilst analysing the results of the 2007 clinical trial called ILLUMINATE, which tested the effects of a combination of drugs, one designed to increase HDL and the other to lower LDL or “bad” cholesterol.
Torcetrapib increases HDL by inhibiting a compound called cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP) and atorvastatin is a statin designed to reduce LDL.
Close examination of the data revealed that subjects who were taking a combination of torcetrapib and atorvastatin showed significantly improved diabetic control as indicated by lower blood sugar, decreased fasting insulin levels and significantly lower HbA1c, than subjects who were only taking the atorvastatin.
Professor Philip Barter, the director of the HRI and lead author on the study, told Science Daily “The possibility that CETP inhibitor drugs may not only reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, but may also improve the control of blood sugar in people with diabetes, is an exciting prospect that may translate into real health benefits for people with diabetes,"
The ILLUMINATE trial was terminated early due to serious adverse effects in patients taking torcetrapib, but it was later determined that these problems were caused by side effects of torcetrapib unrelated to the inhibition of CETP.
Trials are now underway on two other CETP inhibitors, dalcetrapib and anacetrapib, which do not share the adverse side effects of torcetrapib. If treatment with these drugs is found to be improve both diabetic control and protect against the development of heart disease, there will be a compelling case for considering CETP inhibition as a treatment of choice in patients with type 2 diabetes.
A link to the full published study can be found here. This story was also covered by Science Daily, Forbes, The Telegraph in the UK, Endocrine Today, and MedPage Today.
