Gemcadiol: a new antilipemic drug, a clinical trial.

Nineteen patients with type II, III, IV, or V hyperlipoproteinemia received gemcadiol (2,2,9,9,-tetramethyl-1,10-decanediol) in daily doses between 1.2 and 2 g. The patients were hospitalized for dose titration and then followed as outpatients on appropriate doses of gemcadiol. In Type II hyperlipoproteinemia, serum cholesterol was lowered by an average of 24%. The serum triglycerides in Type IV hyperlipoproteinemia decreased by an average of 51%. Serum uric acid was not altered. There were no changes of subjective feelings or of clinical or laboratory findings, including creatine phosphokinase. This study indicates that gemcadiol is an effective antilipemic agent that is very well tolerated.