Torcetrapib

Torcetrapib is believed to be the only drug in the class with this problem toxicity.

Whistle-blower Nissen's advice: Push past drug's failure 2007

The drug is called Torcetrapib and it was designed to increase good cholesterol, which is a good thing that help unclog arteries without having any nasty side effects.

CNN Transcript Dec 5, 2006 2006

Torcetrapib also had an unexpected "off-target" toxicity on the adrenal gland, producing biological changes known to increase blood pressure and damage artery walls, researchers said.

Researchers eye cholesterol drug potential 2007

Torcetrapib falls into a proposed class of drugs known as inhibitors of cholesteryl ester transfer protein, or CETP, which are designed to raise the level of good cholesterol in the blood.

Pfizer Drug for Cholesterol 2007

This type of drug came into the limelight last year, when Torcetrapib, then the most important drug in the pipeline of U.S. drug company Pfizer Inc., failed in late testing after a group taking the drug in a critical clinical trial had more deaths than a control group.

Roche Names Schwiezer Head of Diagnostics 2007

Torcetrapib boosted so-called good cholesterol, or HDL, by an average of 72.1% and lowered "bad" LDL cholesterol by 24.9%.

Pfizer Drug for Cholesterol 2007

"Torcetrapib was expected to be a blockbuster," he says.

HDL Drugs: What Now? 2007

Prospects dimmed further when two studies published in March showed that Torcetrapib didn't help reduce arterial plaque, or atherosclerosis, a key cause of heart disease.

Roche Names Schwiezer Head of Diagnostics 2007

Torcetrapib also was associated with increased blood pressure.

Merck Aims at Obesity, Cholesterol 2007

Torcetrapib, if approved, could extend the $12 billion cholesterol franchise Pfizer has built around Lipitor, the world's best-selling drug.

Pfizer: Still In The Game Pivotal Pfizer Drug Still Has Vast Potential Matthew Herper 2006