Colestimide
was launched in Japan for the treatment of hyperlipidemia
and hypercholesterolemia. It is a newly developed methyl imidazoleepichlorhydrin
copolymer; this anion exchange resin works as a powerful bile
acid sequestrant, thus increasing the rate of conversion of cholesterol to bile
acids in the liver which may lead to enhancement of the rate of LDL removal. In
animal models and humans, Colestimide proved to be more potent than
cholestyramine and seems to be better tolerated. It reduced plasma levels of
total and LDL cholesterol and did not alter HDL and triglyceride levels.
Colestimide can be used in monotherapy or co-administered with HMG-CoA
reductase inhibitors.
Colestilan, is a copolymer of 2-methyl-1H-imidazole and epichlorohydrin, and a bile acid sequestrans, that can be used for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and dyslipidemia.
