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Title: Vytorin Slashes Bad Cholesterol to Lower Levels Than Atorvastatin: Presented at ACC

"Vytorin Slashes Bad Cholesterol to Lower Levels Than Atorvastatin: Presented at ACC"

By Ed Susman ORLANDO, FL -- March 9, 2005 -- The combination cholesterol-lowering drug Vytorin reduces low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels more effectively than atorvastatin, according to a 6-week head-to-head comparison. Vytorin, consisting of 10 mg ezetimibe and 20 mg simvastatin, reduced LDL cholesterol by 51% compared to a 36% reduction with atorvastatin 10 mg, said Christie Ballantyne, MD, director, Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, Methodist DeBakey Heart Center, Houston, Texas, United States. Dr. Ballantyne reported these results here March 9[^th at the American Academy of Cardiology 54^th Scientific Session.

In addition to overall cholesterol lowering in the high-risk hyperlipidemic patients, about 82% of patients on Vytorin achieved an LDL cholesterol level below 100 mg/dL compared with 47% of patients on atorvastatin. He said that reduction reached statistical significance at the P <.001 level.

Dr. Ballantyne and colleagues conducted their multicenter, double blind, randomized, 8-arm parallel-group study to compare the LDL cholesterol-reducing efficacy of milligram-equivalent statin doses of Vytorin and atorvastatin in 1,902 patients with hypercholesterolemia.

"There has been a good deal of discussion about achieving even lower LDL cholesterol goals, especially in higher-risk patients," Dr. Ballantyne said.

The study demonstrated that more high-risk patients taking Vytorin achieved the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III goal of less than 100 mg/dL as compared to atorvastatin. In addition, 57% of patients on Vytorin reduced their LDL cholesterol levels to below 70 mg/dL compared to 23% of patients on atorvastatin.

Patients were enrolled if they had coronary heart disease or a coronary heart disease equivalent condition such as diabetes. The average LDL cholesterol levels at baseline was about 166 to 169 mg/dL

Vytorin combines two cholesterol-lowering strategies, Dr. Ballantyne explained; simvastatin inhibits production of cholesterol in the liver, and ezetimibe blocks the absorption of cholesterol in the intestines, including cholesterol in food.

[Presentation title: Attainment of Optimal National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III Treatment Goals in High Risk Patients: Dose Comparison of VYTORIN (Ezetimibe/Simvastatin) and Atorvastatin. Abstract 1129-111]

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