Genzyme launches Cholestagel in Europe

Cholestagel is aimed at treating patients with primary hypercholesterolemia who cannot meet their targeted cholesterol levels with standard therapies alone.

Cholestagel is a polymer in tablet form that lowers LDL (or ‘bad’) cholesterol. It can be taken in combination with other cholesterol-lowering medications, such as statins, or alone. When combined with various statins, fibrates or ezetimibe, Cholestagel showed an additive LDL-cholesterol lowering effect in the range of 10 to 16%. Cholestagel is also well tolerated, with minimal gastrointestinal side effects similar to those seen in placebo, and has limited drug-interaction.

Genzyme plans to launch Cholestagel in the UK, the Netherlands and the Scandinavian region in Q4 of 2007. Genzyme also intends to pursue regulatory approvals for Cholestagel in Latin America, Canada, and the Asia Pacific region.

James Geraghty, senior vice president, Genzyme, said: “Cholestagel offers patients at high risk of life-threatening cardiovascular disease a new way to manage their cholesterol. Most of these high-risk patients are seen at specialized treatment centers, and the launch of Cholestagel in Europe is consistent with our efforts to provide treatments for patients with serious unmet medical needs. We intend to do so with a small and highly-focused field organization that leverages Genzyme’s existing country organizations.”