Acute
Related to medical conditions: brief and severe.

ApoA-I
The apolipoprotein component of the HDL particle.

Apolipoprotein
The protein combined with a lipid to form a lipoprotein, a component of HDL and LDL.

Atherosclerosis
A condition in which the accumulation of lipids (cholesterol and fatty acids) in arteries results in the hardening of the arteries and the constriction of the blood flow.

Atherosclerotic Plaque
The deposit or accumulation of lipid-containing plaques in the arterial wall (also known as atheroma).

Cholesterol
A fatty molecule essential for normal body functions, including the production of hormones and bile acids; it is also an important component of a cell membrane.

Chronic
Related to medical conditions: having long duration.

Coronary Revascularization
A general term referred to all the medical procedures performed to restore the normal blood flow in patients with atherosclerosis or severe coronary artery disease.

CVD
Cardiovascular Disease is the term most commonly used to refer to diseases of the heart and blood vessels.

Dyslipidemia
A condition is which the amount of lipids (cholesterol and fatty acids) in the blood is above or below the normal levels.

HDL
High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) a complex of lipids and proteins (ApoA-I) that function in the transport of cholesterol away from the tissues to the liver and is associated with a decreased risk of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease (also known as “good cholesterol”).

HDL Mimetics
A particle designed/destined to mimic the function of the naturally occurring HDL in the human bloodstream.

Investigational New Drug (IND)
The application submitted to the FDA prior to being tested in humans in clinical trials.

LDL
Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) a complex of lipids and proteins (ApoB) that function by transporting cholesterol to the tissues, in particular the arteries, and is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease (also know as “bad cholesterol”).

Lipids
Fatty substances, including cholesterol and triglycerides that are present in cell membranes and body tissues.

Lipoproteins
A complex of proteins and lipids that are the principle means by which fat and cholesterol is transported in the blood; major lipoproteins are LDL and HDL.

Phase I Clinical Trial
A smaller scale trial, where a drug is first tested on a small number of healthy human volunteers to evaluate the drug’s safety, schedule, dose, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

Phase II Clinical Trial
A study intended to evaluate the efficacy of a new drug in patients suffering from the condition that the drug is intended to treat.

Phase III Clinical Trial
A pivotal, large scale study conducted to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of a new drug in a random population of patients suffering from the condition that the drug is intended to treat.

Preclinical Studies
The studies conducted in animals to evaluate the toxic effects, pharmacokinetics and metabolism of a drug to provide evidence for safety, efficacy and bioavailability of the drug prior to its administration to humans in clinical studies.

Reverse Lipid Transport (RLT)
Process by which accumulated cholesterol is transported from the vessel walls to the liver for excretion, thus reversing atherosclerosis.

TIA
Transient Ischemic Attack, often called a mini-stroke, is a condition characterised by a change in the blood supply to a particular area in the brain. If the symptoms persist for longer than 24 hours, then the condition is characterised as a “stroke”.

Vulnerable Plaque
An unstable collection of white blood cells and lipids (including cholesterol) in the wall of an artery which is highly vulnerable to rupture, which can result in myocardinal infarction (heart attack) or stroke.