New Phase III data published today in "Current Medical Research and Opinion" highlight that the recommended starting dose of 2 mg of LIVALO (pitavastatin), a novel synthetic statin, was statistically superior to simvastatin at a dose of 20 mg over 12 weeks in reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
(LDL-C), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) and total cholesterol (TC) in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia and combined dyslipidemia. With respect to LDL-C goal attainment, treatment with LIVALO was comparable to simvastatin according to the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) III guidelines, but was superior based on European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) guidelines.
Although statins are proven to reduce LDL-C levels, many patients treated with statins fail to reach or maintain recommended LDL-C goals. As many as six out of ten patients stop taking statins during the first twelve months, often due to poor compliance and/or side effects. Untreated and undertreated patients are at an increased risk for cardiovascular events, especially patients with a chronic condition such as diabetes.
"A need exists for an effective, well-tolerated statin that improves LDL-C and other lipid parameters while offering a low-dose regimen that may encourage patient compliance," said Leiv Ose, M.D., Ph.D., Rikshospitalet University Hospital, Norway. "The results of this study show that LIVALO is an efficacious, low-dose therapy that is comparable to the most commonly prescribed doses of simvastatin."