What's the deal with niacin development: is laropiprant add-on therapy a winning strategy to beat a straight flush?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Niacin is a B-complex vitamin used as a lipid-altering drug since the 1950s. Niacin improves multiple lipid parameters. Atherosclerotic coronary heart disease outcome studies support niacin's efficacy in reducing coronary heart disease events, either as monotherapy or when used in combination with other lipid-altering drugs. The most commonly reported reason for the lack of its more widespread clinical use is niacin-induced flushing.

RECENT FINDINGS: Laropiprant is a highly selective prostaglandin D2 receptor 1 antagonist that mitigates niacin-induced flushing.

SUMMARY: This review examines the history and provides a perspective regarding the extended-release niacin/laropiprant development program, which was designed to better allow patients to achieve a more therapeutic niacin dose of 2 g/day, without the need for titration. Ongoing coronary heart disease outcome studies will provide better insight as to the benefits of niacin in general, and the safety and efficacy of extended-release niacin/laropiprant specifically.