REVEAL study of MK 0859 (anacetrapib), a treatment for atherosclerotic vascular disease is published in NEJM.

Merck announced the publication and presentation of results from the REVEAL (Randomized EValuation of the Effects of Anacetrapib through Lipid modification) outcomes study of anacetrapib, Merck�s investigational cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitor. It was simultaneously published in the online edition of The New England Journal of Medicine.

In the study of 30,449 patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease receiving LDL-C lowering treatment with atorvastatin, anacetrapib significantly reduced the risk of major coronary events (composite of coronary death, myocardial infarction or coronary revascularization) by 9 percent relative to placebo (10.8% vs. 11.8%, respectively; P=0.004). The safety of anacetrapib was generally consistent with data from earlier trials of the drug. However, a sub-study also showed that anacetrapib accumulates in adipose tissue with prolonged dosing. Merck is reviewing the results of the trial with external experts and will consider whether to file new drug applications with the FDA and other regulatory agencies.

See-" Effects of Anacetrapib in Patients with Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease "-The HPS3/TIMI55-REVEAL Collaborative Group- August 29, 2017DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1706444.