The sales of Vytorin and Zetia — cholesterol-lowering drugs — account for $5 billion in sales annually. They have been widely prescribed in place of less expensive medicine. Now, word comes from a study that they may not be as good as older and cheaper drugs.
The study put Vytorin, which is made from Zetia and Zocor, against Zocor alone. Zetia also is sold separately. Zocor is available as a generic.
What the study of 720 patients found was although Vytorin did lower the so-called bad cholesterol as it should, it didn't slow the growth of plaque, which can lead to blocked arteries. In fact, it did not perform any better than Zocor.
Manufacturers acknowledge that neither Vytorin nor Zetia have been shown to reduce the risk of heart attacks or other life-threatening diseases.
Although medical specialists say much more study is needed, Vytorin and Zetia apparently will not work as alternatives to statin drugs, such as Lipitor, when it comes to slowing the growth of artery blockages. They may end up classified as drugs of last resort.
This is all confusing and unsettling to the layperson. Cholesterol patients should not stop taking any medicine until they've have a chance to talk this all out with their doctors to determine the best course of treatment.
A House committee, meanwhile, is investigating whether the manufacturers deliberately withheld data from a trial on the drugs nearly two years ago.
This much is certain: When people's lives are at stake, it's essential a drug's true effectiveness be determined and information be disseminated to the public.
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