Re the safety issue with Apabetalone in one Phase 2 clinical trial, this is what the risk factor section in the RVX annual report says:

In our Phase 2 ASSERT clinical trial, some patients had elevations in serum enzymes which are sensitive markers of liver injury; however other clinical laboratory tests indicate there was no impairment in liver function and patients were asymptomatic for liver injury. Most of these liver signals occurred between weeks five and ten with fewer occurrences between weeks ten and thirteen. In our subsequent Phase 2b clinical trials, SUSTAIN and ASSURE l, increases in ALTs were observed in a small group of patients. Those who had ALT elevations of 3X ULN all dosed through the trial which potentially illustrated adaptability to the drug. Those who had elevation greater than 5XULN, a high number of those patients had pre-existing liver condition such as hepatitis and took known agents that cause ALT elevations such as acetaminophen, clavulanic acid, diclofenac, and Augmentin. These increases were all observed within weeks 12 and 24 of the trial. Upon stopping apabetalone ALT elevations returned to ULN quickly which further illustrates a lack of hepatotoxicity. We also performed the FDA’s liver analysis tool (“eDISH”) which further illustrated that there were no Hy’s Law (elevated ALT and total bilirubin) cases. With these learnings, we believe that the current therapeutic regimen can be safe with regard to effects on the liver.

So Bear, I see no reason to assume that side effects are anything serious.