AstraZeneca India has introduced Crestor (rosuvastatin) as 5, 10, 20 and 40 mg tablets. The drug is indicated for use in the treatment of dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis and primary hypercholesterolaemia. Dyslipidemia is a clinical condition characterized by an elevation of cholesterol and/or triglycerides in the bloodstream. Over 69 per cent of patients with coronary heart disease, even those currently on medications, remain above the targeted levels for cholesterol.

Crestor is a new member of the cholesterol-lowering statin (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors) class of drug therapy. In addition to its LDL (low-density lipoprotein) or 'bad' cholesterol lowering effects, Crestor, has been shown to provide a significant increase in HDL (high-density lipoprotein) or 'good' cholesterol. For the first time a statin could slow down and reverse the progression of atherosclerosis, the leading cause of heart attack and stroke.

"We are delighted to introduce Crestor, the original rosuvastatin in India," said Anandh Balasundaram, MD, AstraZeneca Pharma India Ltd. "We believe that the drug will offer an important treatment option for the large patient pool who are either untreated or not at target cholesterol levels. The launch of Crestor is in line with our India strategy to bring global brands to India at prices affordable for Indian patients."

The clinical development programme for Crestor is the largest programme ever submitted to evaluate a statin initially. In multiple clinical studies, Crestor has been shown to be more effective in lowering LDL-cholesterol than currently prescribed statins, these studies have been published in leading international medical journals. Evidence collected from over 30,000 patients who have taken Crestor demonstrates that it is well tolerated with a safety profile comparable to that of other statins.

This introduction is especially significant as current projections suggest that by the year 2020 India will have the largest cardiovascular disease burden in the world and account for one third of all deaths, with one fifth of the deaths in India resulting from coronary heart disease. Sadly, many of these deaths will be among young Indians, also because heart disease in India occurs eight to 10 years earlier than in the West. Even women are prone to the risk as one in four women in urban India and every eighth woman in rural India is suffering from high cholesterol.