The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 268 No 7191 p419-425
30 March 2002

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Cerivastatin reaches the end of the road

Marketing authorisation for cerivastatin (Lipobay) should be withdrawn, the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA) said on 21 March.

The EMEA recommendation follows a review of the safety of cerivastatin that was initiated because of concerns over muscle toxicity (PJ, 18 August 2001, p222). The drug was withdrawn in the United Kingdom on 8 August last year. At the time, Bayer, manufacturer of Lipobay, said that it would evaluate cerivastatin's role and might consider reintroducing it.

A class review of statins by the EMEA is still continuing at national levels and is expected to be completed shortly.