A much-hyped CV drug failed, repeatedly. Now, investors are betting nearly $200M on one last PhIII bid
Just under a decade ago, Eli Lilly announced early results for a new drug that lowered bad cholesterol and raised good cholesterol. It was a “holy grail” result, as JAMA put it in a press release, offering a path for a pill that could curb cardiovascular disease, still the leading cause of death in the US. Merck, Amgen, Roche, and Pfizer all jumped in with similar molecules.
And then, beginning in 2015, it all fell apart. The molecules, known as CETP inhibitor, boosted good cholesterol but pivotal study after pivotal study showed they didn’t prevent heart attacks, strokes or other cardiovascular deaths. “CETP inhibitor class finally dies,” ran one 2017 headline, when Merck abandoned its effort.
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