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news.A re-examination of results from a trial investigating the ability of Merck & Co's Vytorin to reduce cholesterol has revealed that the treatment is as effective in patients also suffering from diabetes.
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Results from the VYVA (VYtorin Versus Atorvastatin) trial involving a subgroup of 428 patients with type 2 diabetes were evaluated. In the new analysis, results showed that Vytorin provided 56% reduction in LDL (“bad’) cholesterol across the dosing range in these patients as compared to 53% for the entire test group and a 46% reduction seen in diabetes patients taking Lipitor. Lipitor achieved a score of 45% across the full test group.
At the most commonly used starting doses, 59 diabetic patients taking Vytorin 10/20mg, reduced their LDL cholesterol by 53% as compared to the 35% reduction seen in the 46 patients taking Lipitor 10mg. This difference was similar to the results seen in the overall study population.
“The results seen in this new analysis, in patients with type 2 diabetes, showed that Vytorin was more effective than Lipitor in reducing LDL cholesterol at all doses compared, including the most commonly used starting doses,” said lead investigator, Dr Christie Ballantyne, director of the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, Methodist DeBakey Heart Center, Houston. “These results are consistent with what was seen in the overall study.”
High cholesterol is a known risk factor for coronary heart disease and patients with type 2 diabetes are considered to be at high risk of developing coronary heart disease, according to the American Heart Association.