A Diacylglycerol Transferase 1 Inhibitor Is a Potent Hepatitis C Antiviral in Vitro but Not in Patients in a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a significant cause of liver disease affecting 80-150 million people globally. Diacylglycerol transferase 1 (DGAT-1), a triglyceride synthesis enzyme, is important for the HCV life cycle in vitro. Pradigastat, a potent DGAT-1 inhibitor found to lower triglycerides and HgbA1c in patients, was investigated for safety and efficacy in patients with HCV.

Effect of the DGAT1 inhibitor pradigastat on triglyceride and apoB48 levels in patients with familial chylomicronemia syndrome.

Background: Familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS) is a rare lipid disease caused by complete lipoprotein lipase (LPL) deficiency resulting in fasting chylomicronemia and severe hypertriglyceridemia. Inhibition of diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1), which mediates chylomicron triglyceride (TG) synthesis, is an attractive strategy to reduce TG levels in FCS. In this study we assessed the safety, tolerability and TG-lowering efficacy of the DGAT1 inhibitor pradigastat in patients with FCS.

Anticipating the evolution of clinical cholesterol guidelines: implications of recent statin intervention trials.

Over the past two decades, statin-based intervention trials have conclusively shown that lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) prevents cardiovascular disease and death. In response to these trials, the National Cholesterol Education Program has established and refined LDL-C goals in its Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) guidelines. In response to five new statin trials, the 2004 update to ATP III called for more aggressive lowering of LDL-C.