To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Baycol (Cerivastatin) Can Lower Cholesterol To Target Levels URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/1F17AE.htm Doctor's Guide February 5, 2001
TORONTO, ON -- February 5, 2001 -- CAVEAT study results just published in the British Journal of Cardiology show that up to 96 percent of patients can lower their LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) to the target levels recommended by the Canadian Working Group with the cholesterol drug Baycol® (cerivastatin sodium tablets). High levels of LDL cholesterol increase the risk of heart attack, heart disease and death. The CAVEAT study also showed that Baycol is twice as powerful at increasing HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol) as the most commonly used cholesterol drug atorvastatin. Studies have shown that a one percent increase in HDL cholesterol leads to a three percent reduction in the risk of death from cardiovascular disease. In the CAVEAT study, an impressive 84 percent of Canadians reduced their levels of LDL cholesterol to the levels recommended by Canadian experts by taking Baycol 0.4 mg. An even greater percentage of study participants, 96 percent, reached their cholesterol targets with a higher dose of Baycol (0.8 mg.) which was recently approved in Canada. This is particularly good news for patients with high levels of LDL cholesterol in light of the findings of an earlier study. The Lipid Treatment Assessment Project (L-TAP) showed that, on average, as few as 38 percent of patients taking older statin cholesterol medications are lowering their LDL cholesterol to recommended target levels. The Canadian Working Group on Hypercholesterolemia and Other Dyslipidemias recently updated Canadian cholesterol guidelines to reflect the need for more powerful treatment of cholesterol. "We know that high levels of LDL cholesterol lead to heart disease but, unfortunately, most patients on cholesterol medication have levels that are still too high, which puts them at risk of having a heart attack and other complications," says Dr. Patrick Ma, Director, Lipid Clinic, Heart Health Institute, Calgary, Alberta and the Principal Investigator for CAVEAT. "CAVEAT shows that patients treated with Baycol, the newest of the statin cholesterol drugs, can do significantly better than what we are seeing in everyday practice," adds Dr. Ma. "When physicians aim for the new, lower cholesterol levels recommended by the Canadian Working Group and use the most effective medications, we reduce hospital stays and save lives." The goal of CAVEAT was to measure the effectiveness of the two new generation statin cholesterol drugs, Baycol and atorvastatin. The study compared clinically comparable dosages of the two drugs and looked at their ability to lower bad cholesterol (LDL-C), increase good cholesterol (HDL-C) and lower triglycerides, another lipid or blood fat. Baycol was shown to be equally effective as atorvastatin at reducing LDL cholesterol and twice as powerful at increasing HDL cholesterol. There was also a trend towards superior reduction of triglycerides with Baycol. CAVEAT was an all-Canadian study sponsored by the Healthcare Division of Bayer Inc. and Fournier Pharma, Thylmer Division. The study was a randomised, double-blind, parallel group comparison of Baycol 0.4 mg and 0.8 mg to atorvastatin 10 mg and 20 mg, once daily, in patients with type IIb mixed dyslipidemia (elevated LDL-C cholesterol and triglycerides). A total of 660 Canadian patients enrolled in the study. The study showed both drugs to be well-tolerated with low incidence of adverse events. Side effects were not serious in nature and were completely reversible with discontinuation of therapy. Baycol is unique among statin cholesterol drugs in that it is absorbed, metabolised and eliminated from the body via a dual metabolic pathway. This means there is a low risk of interaction with other medications taken at the same time. Baycol is co-promoted in Canada by the Healthcare Division of Bayer Inc. and Fournier Pharma, Thylmer Division. Related Link: Baycol® (cerivastatin sodium tablets). --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.