New data for lipid modifying drug

A recent phase III study has found that patients with primary hypercholesterolaemia or mixed dyslipidaemia experienced reduced LDL-C of almost 48%, increased HDL-C of almost 28% and reduced triglyceride (TG) levels of about 33% after 12 weeks treatment with a combination of Tredaptive 2g (nicotinic acid/ laropiprant) and simvastatin (pooled across 20mg or 40mg).

The primary endpoint of the study was the change in LDL-C levels in patients treated with Tredaptive 2g co-administered with simvastatin compared with those who received Tredaptive 2g alone. Secondary endpoints included change in LDL-C, HDL-C and TG levels in patients treated with Tredaptive 2g and simvastatin compared with those receiving simvastatin 2g alone. The double-blind, 1400-patient study also assessed the safety and tolerability profile of the combination regimen.
In other analyses, the research showed that Tredaptive 2g alone reduced LDL-C by 17%, increased HDL-C by about 23% and reduced TGs by almost 22%. Simvastatin monotherapy reduced LDL-C by 37%, increased HDL-C by 6% and reduced TGs by almost 15%.
This research suggests that patients with hypercholesterol-aemia and dyslipidaemia could benefit from being prescribed a combination of Tredaptive 2g and simvastatin, which represents a novel approach to patients with these conditions who are at high risk of heart attack and stroke.