Big REVEAL: Merck's Anacetrapib Surprises With Success, But What Next?

The positive top-line results for Merck & Co's cardiovascular outcomes trial for its CETP inhibitor anacetrapib may not be enough to de-risk the class, and questions remain about the level of clinical benefit and the regulatory options.

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Fallen off your chair? A CETP inhibitor succeeds • Source: Shutterstock

Merck & Co. Inc. may have beat the odds and breathed new life into the CETP inhibitor class with the demonstration of a cardiovascular outcomes advantage for its anacetrapib in the 30,000-patient REVEAL trial, but the company seems uncertain of its next steps.

Merck has said merely that it planned to review the REVEAL results of the trial with external experts, and would...

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