Merck said that the DEFINE trial was an 18-month study in more than 1,600 patients with or at high risk for CHD who were already receiving statins and were at guideline-established LDL-C goal.
The study was designed to assess the lipid-modifying efficacy, safety and tolerability of Anacetrapib 100mg daily added to ongoing statin therapy with or without other lipid-modifying agents.
In the trial, Anacetrapib showed no significant differences from placebo in the primary safety measures studied.
Additionally, there were no differences in mean changes in blood pressure between the Anacetrapib and placebo treatment groups, nor were there any significant differences in serum electrolytes or aldosterone levels.
Merck Research Laboratories Cardiovascular senior vice president and franchise head Michael Mendelsohn said that these results are promising and serve as the basis for the decision to further develop Anacetrapib.
"We look forward to continuing to study Anacetrapib in a large cardiovascular clinical outcomes trial, Mendelsohn said.