Letter to the Editor

A review entitled “Future Challenges for Microsomal Transport Protein Inhibitors” [1] stated (page 281), based upon a manuscript [2] that “A mouse-specific ASO (Isis Pharmaceuticals 147764) demonstrated direct and specific inhibition of MTP in a murine model of hyperlipidemia”. In that same paragraph, it was implied that MTP and apoB ASOs were directly compared in depth in that manuscript [2]. As the primary author of this publication, I would like to point out that those statements are factually incorrect on both counts. As the title of the reference implies, ISIS 147764 is an ASO designed to specifically and selectively inhibit the apoB, not MTP, message. Furthermore, the data clearly show specific inhibition of apoB mRNA and protein. An MTP ASO was only used to demonstrate specificity and selectivity of the apoB drug and data obtained using the MTP ASO were not shown in the cited publication [2]. It was also clearly stated in the manuscript [2] that MTP was not affected by apoB antisense treatment. It would be appreciated if these factual errors were corrected.