What is "muraglitazar"

n. A peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonist.

Muraglitazar (proposed tradename Pargluva) is a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonist with affinity to PPARα and PPARγ.

The drug had completed phase III clinical trials, however in May, 2006 Bristol-Myers Squibb announced that it had discontinued further development.

Data on muraglitazar is relatively sparse due to the recent introduction of this agent. One double-blind randomized clinical trial comparing muraglitazar and pioglitazone found that the effects of the former were favourable in terms of HDL-C increase, decrease in total cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, triglycerides and a greater reduction in HbA1c (P<0.0001 for all comparisons). However, the muraglitazar group had a higher all-cause mortality, greater incidence of edema and heart failure and more weight gain compared to the pioglitazone group. A meta-analysis of the phase 2 and 3 clinical trials of muraglitazar revealed that it was associated with a greater incidence of myocardial infarction, stroke, transient ischemic attacks and CHF when compared to placebo or pioglitazone.