The present invention relates to novel &agr;-substituted-&bgr;-aminoethylphosphonate and &agr;-substituted-&bgr;-aminovinylphosphonate derivatives and their uses for lowering plasma levels of apo (a), Lp(a), apo B, apo B associated lipoproteins (low density lipoproteins and very low density lipoproteins) and for lowering plasma levels of total cholesterol.