Ezetimibe

Ezetimibe is a cholesterol transport inhibitor. Ezetimibe inhibits intestinal cholesterol absorption by preventing cholesterol uptake by the Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 (NPC1L1) protein, a cholesterol transporter located in the apical membrane of enterocytes. It exhibits IC50 values of 0.0005-0.05 mg/kg in various animal models, selectively blocking cholesterol absorption without inhibiting pancreatic lipolytic enzyme activities in the intestinal lumen, affecting bile acid micelle solubilization of cholesterol, or interfering with the absorption of triglycerides, fatty acids, or bile acids.