The invention relates to substituted polycyclic aryl and heteroaryl tertiary-heteroalkylamine compounds useful as inhibitors of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP; plasma lipid transfer protein-I) and compounds, compositions and methods for treating atherosclerosis and other coronary artery diseases. Preferred tertiary-heteroalkylamine compounds are substituted N,N-disubstituted diamines. A preferred specific N,N-disubstituted diamine is the compound: ##STR1##