Biggest LDL-C reduction achieved with Crestor combination therapy

A combination treatment regimen of Crestor (rosuvastatin) 40mg and ezetimibe 10mg has achieved a 70% reduction in LDL-C - the largest reduction in LDL-C ever seen in a statin clinical trial, says AstraZeneca.

The latest study, called Explorer, showed that in six weeks, the combination treatment also helped more high-risk patients, whose LDL-C needed to be reduced to less than 100mg/dL to achieve their guideline LDL-C goals, than was achieved using Crestor alone.

"Cardiologists have long recognised the challenge in helping patients with dangerously high cholesterol levels - especially the high-risk patient with high cholesterol - reach their target lipid levels," said lead investigator, Professor Christie Ballantyne, of Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, US.

Studies have already demonstrated that rosuvastatin, as a statin monotherapy, is effective at lowering elevated cholesterol levels. This latest study now shows that a treatment regimen using rosuvastatin as a base and adding-on ezetimibe can help even the difficult-to-treat patient population achieve optimal cholesterol targets.

The combination therapy provides a treatment option for a small group of particularly high-risk patients with very high LDL-C, who are unable to achieve their guideline LDL C goals on the maximum statin dose.