Novel therapy increases HDL cholesterol

Administration of KC706, an oral p38 MAP kinase inhibitor, increases HDL cholesterol levels in patients with mixed dyslipidaemia. The study was reported at the Scientific Sessions, American Heart Association Annual Meeting 2007.1

Animal studies have previously shown that KC706 increases HDL cholesterol by 50-60%. In this double-blind 6-week study, 115 patients with mixed dyslipidaemia (low HDL cholesterol and elevated triglycerides) were randomised to treatment with KC706 (150 mg or 300 mg daily) or placebo. At baseline, 70% of these patients satisfied the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III.2

At 6 weeks, patients treated with KC706 had increases in HDL cholesterol of up to 18.6% (150 mg group, p<0.0001 vs. placebo). With the exception of apolipoprotein A-I, which was also significantly increased, levels of other lipids were unchanged. Mean HDL particle size also increased in patients treated with KC706 but not with placebo

References

1. Miller SG, Crowley C, Lundstrom J et al. KC706, an oral p38 MAP kinase inhibitor, increases HDL-C. Circulation 2007;116:II_126. Abstract 680.

2. Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III). Final report. Circulation 2002; 106:3143-3421.