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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 9th at the American Academy of Cardiology 54th 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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