New oral agents for treating dyslipidemia

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: We provide an overview of orally administered lipid-lowering therapies under development. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent data support statins for intermediate risk primary prevention, and ezetimibe for high-risk secondary prevention. Novel agents in development include bempedoic acid and gemcabene, and work continues on one remaining cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitor, anacetrapib, to determine whether this class can reduce cardiovascular risk. Selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor modulators such as K-877 are under study to determine whether they have an advantage over older fibrates. Diacylglycerol transferase inhibitors such as pradigastat appear to have potent triglyceride-lowering effects, even for patients with familial chylomicronemia syndrome. Finally, novel ω-3 preparations are available with significant triglyceride lowering, although their role in therapy remains unclear. SUMMARY: Statins will remain the backbone of lipid-lowering therapy, although several novel oral agents are promising. The common theme across drugs in development is the demonstration of good lipid-lowering effect, although lacking cardiovascular outcomes data, which will likely be necessary before any of them, can be recommended or approved for widespread use.