CETP inhibition has long been pursued as a strategy against atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, albeit with mixed results. NewAmsterdam Pharma has taken the bold step of revisiting the approach with a new, more potent inhibitor: obicetrapib. Early trials demonstrate clear efficacy, yet exactly how CETP inhibitors exert their cardiovascular effects remained unclear. In this lecture, Mathijs de Kleer, project manager for preclinical and healthy-volunteer studies, discusses the pivotal role of strategic partnerships — including the collaboration with TNO — in elucidating the mechanism of action of this novel cardiovascular therapy and how these results play a pivotal role in the (pre-)clinical development of obicetrapib.