Vytorin (ezetimibe/simvastatin) significantly reduced LDL "bad" cholesterol by an average of 52.5 percent and C-reactive protein (CRP) by an average of 31.0 percent, compared to averages of 38.0 percent and 14.3 percent, respectively, achieved with Zocor (simvastatin) (p<0.001), according to the results observed in a combined post-hoc analysis of three studies involving patients with high cholesterol presented at the 55th Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology.

C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation, is considered an emerging risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to the American Heart Association. Studies of CRP have demonstrated that higher levels are associated with a higher risk for developing coronary events. The specific relationship between reductions in CRP and reduction of CVD risk has not been established and no drugs are approved specifically for use in reducing CRP.

"In this analysis, while both treatments yielded LDL cholesterol and CRP reductions, we saw that Vytorin lowered LDL cholesterol and CRP by a significantly greater amount in more patients than Zocor," said Christie M. Ballantyne, director of the Centre for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, Methodist DeBakey Heart Centre, Houston, TX.

This post-hoc analysis pooled data from three similar randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind studies that included a total of 3,083 patients with primary hypercholesterolemia. After a six to eight week washout period and a four week recommended cholesterol-lowering diet, investigators randomized patients with LDL cholesterol levels between 145-250 mg/dL equally into one of the following drug regimens for 12 weeks: ZETIA 10 mg; Zocor 10, 20, 40 or 80 mg, Vytorin 10/10, 10/20, 10/40 or 10/80 mg; or placebo.

Vytorin contains simvastatin and ezetimibe. Vytorin is indicated as adjunctive therapy to diet for the reduction of elevated total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, Apo Bi, triglycerides and non-HDL cholesterol and to increase HDL cholesterol in patients with primary (heterozygous familial and non-familial) hypercholesterolemia or mixed hyperlipidemia.