Pharmaceutical drug giant Pfizer recently halted trials of its new cholesterol drug Torcetrapib after an independent safety board discovered an unexpectedly high number of deaths associated with its use!

The drug is designed to raise HDL levels—commonly called “good cholesterol”. Drug researchers believed Torcetrapib could be used in conjunction with statins or other drugs used to lower LDL, or “bad cholesterol.”

High levels of HDL cholesterol clear fatty plaque out of the arteries—which keeps blood flowing to your heart. Researchers had high hopes for the success of a drug that would raise HDL levels—and possibly help prevent heart attacks.

After 15 years of development, Torcetrapib was in its largest and final stage of clinical testing when the independent board noticed an increased death rate in those taking the drug. The trial involved 15,000 patients and compared two groups of participants. The first group took a combination of Torcetrapib and Lipitor®—the company’s best-selling cholesterol-lowering pill. The second group of patients only took Lipitor®.

According to Pfizer spokesman Paul Fitzhenry, as reported by the Associated Press, 82 patients died while taking the drug combination. There were just 51 deaths in the group who only took Lipitor®. A statistical analysis showed the difference in the number of deaths couldn’t be considered chance occurrences.

On December 2, 2006, Pfizer informed the Food and Drug Administration of its decision to halt the clinical trial and discontinue drug development in the interests of patient safety. Dr. Philip Barter, chairman of the steering committee overseeing the study, said in Pfizer’s release, “We believed that the study was coming along as expected, and this new information was totally unexpected and disappointing, given the potential benefits of this drug.”

Dr Barter also noted that the study didn’t raise any questions about the safety of Lipitor®—which is thought to be the biggest selling drug in the world with annual sales of more than $12 billion a year.

So Why Not Just Stick With
Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs?

You might be thinking that with the recent failure of a drug intended to raise good cholesterol—it might be more effective to stick with the ‘tried and true’ cholesterol lowering drugs. But hundreds of major clinical studies prove statin drugs—which work to slow cholesterol production in your body—rob your heart of the essential nutrient Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10).

CoQ10 supplies the energy your heart needs to maintain its steady rhythm. And considering that your heart beats approximately 100,000 times a day—it needs LOTS of uninterrupted energy to keep up that pace!

When you were younger, your body made its own CoQ10. But as you get older, your ability to produce natural CoQ10 significantly decreases. Without enough CoQ10 to feed the mitochondria, your heart can’t function properly… your cells degenerate… and you can experience serious heart problems!

In a June 2004 report published in Archives of Neurology, Dr. Tatjana Rundek from Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons states, “Even brief exposure to Atorvastatin (the statin drug known by its brand name Lipitor®) causes a marked decrease in blood CoQ10 concentration.”

The good news is you can protect and nourish your heart with all-natural CoQ10 supplements. In addition to its heart-healthy benefits, CoQ10 can also help you:

• Protect yourself from sickness—CoQ10 is essential for ALL your cells, including immune fighting cells!
• Prevent age-related mental decline—Improve blood circulation to experience sharper, clearer thinking!
• Keep your arteries clear and healthy—Help prevent clogged arteries that can lead to brain and heart death!
• Stimulate natural weight loss—Watch the pounds melt away without any hunger pains!

CoQ10 is an amazing nutrient that can help strengthen and recharge your heart—and improve your overall health. So if you’re taking drugs to lower your LDL cholesterol, you should consider taking a CoQ10 supplement as well. It’s a natural and effective remedy to restore the energy and optimum health your heart deserves!