Pharmaceutical Product Guide » Cholesterol

Daiichi Sankyo receives FDA approval for Welchol

Kimberly O'Brien — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 04:17:31 +0000

Daiichi Sankyo Inc’s supplemental new drug application (sNDA) for Welchol has ben approved by the FDA. Welchol is to be used as an adjunct to diet and exercise for the reduction of elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in boys and postmenarchal girls, aged between 10 and 17 years suffering from heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. The drug can be used alone or in combination with a statin after failing an adequate trial of diet therapy.

FDA to evaluate Vytorin’s link with cancer

Kimberly O'Brien — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 20:55:04 +0000

The FDA is reviewing the safety of Vytorin, which combines the cholesterol-lowering drugs Zocor and Zetia, after a clinical trial SEAS revealed that 4.1% of patients taking the drug died of some form of cancer. Although the impact is small, the FDA has alarmed doctors and patients about it. Meanwhile it has asked the manufacturers for further data. However, the FDA and the American Heart Association have said that the patients should not stop taking Vytorin or any other cholesterol drug as that may add to the risk of having a heart attack.

Statins may lead to reduction in blood pressure

Kimberly O'Brien — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:39:48 +0000

An article published in the Archives of Internal Medicine has indicated that statins, which are usually prescribed to lower blood cholesterol levels, might reduce blood pressure in patients. The study, led by Beatrice A Golomb and conducted on 973 participants, demonstrated that there was a noticeable decline in blood pressure in patients taking statins, a drug that inhibits an enzyme involved in the synthesis of cholesterol.