Effects of torcetrapib in patients at high risk for coronary events

Researchers randomly assigned 15,067 adults at high risk of heart problems to take torcetrapib plus atorvastatin, or atorvastatin alone. Atorvastatin lowers LDL cholesterol, often called bad cholesterol. Torcetrapib was meant to raise HDL cholesterol, often called good cholesterol. The trial stopped early after about 18 months because people taking torcetrapib had more deaths and heart-related problems, and their blood pressure also rose. Torcetrapib improved cholesterol numbers but did not protect people from harm.

What this means for you: You can ignore torcetrapib because it was harmful and is not an accepted treatment. This study also shows that improving cholesterol numbers, especially HDL, does not automatically prevent heart attacks, although other ways of raising HDL may differ.