Saturn is a 104-week, parallel-group, multicentre, double-blind, Phase IIIb intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging study of approximately 1,300 patients at 170 centres worldwide. This study by AstraZeneca is designed to measure the impact of Crestor 40mg and atorvastatin (Lipitor) 80mg on the progression of atherosclerosis in high risk patients.
Saturn will compare the effects of these two statins on the ability to decrease progression or induce regression of atherosclerosis, the main cause of cardiovascular disease, following two years of treatment in patients with coronary artery disease.