The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 267 No 7164 p313-316
8 September 2001

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New statin is more effective, says AstraZeneca

Rosuvastatin (Crestor) is more effective at reducing low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) than either atorvastatin, pravastatin or simvastatin, AstraZeneca says.

The company unveiled the results of two phase III trials on 3 September during the European Society of Cardiology meeting in Stockholm, Sweden. Both trials lasted 52 weeks and included a 40-week dose titration phase, during which doses could be sequentially doubled.

In the first (n=412), rosuvastatin, 5mg and 10mg daily, was more effective than atorvastatin (Lipitor), 10mg daily, at reducing LDL-C. In the second trial (n=477), rosuvastatin, 5mg and 10mg daily, was compared with 20mg daily of pravastatin (Lipostat) or simvastatin (Zocor). Rosuvastatin was more effective at reducing LDL-C than either comparator. Adverse events were reported as being similar among the treatment groups in both trials.

The company is battling to bring Crestor to the United States and United Kingdom at a time when the market has been overshadowed by Bayer’s recent withdrawal of cerivastatin (Lipobay) (PJ, 18 August, p222). Rosuvastatin is not licensed in the UK.

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